Great Recordings: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons - The first ever concept album!
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- In this video I explain why this is such a remarkable piece of music and why Nigel Kennedy's recording was so special, deserving the accolade an all time 'great recording'.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
05:38 The composition
08:46 The performance
22:51 Outro
Accompanying lyrics, considered to be written by Vivaldi himself.
Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, "Spring" (La primavera)
Allegro:
Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are
softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar,
casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence,
and the birds take up their charming songs once more.
Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches
rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps,
his faithful dog beside him.
Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes,
nymphs and shepherds lightly dance
beneath spring’s beautiful canopy.
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" (L'estate)
Allegro non molto
Under a hard season, fired up by the sun
Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine
We hear the cuckoo's voice;
then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air, but threatening
the North Wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles,
fearing violent storms and his fate.
Adagio e piano - Presto e forte
The fear of lightning and fierce thunder
Robs his tired limbs of rest
As gnats and flies buzz furiously around.
Presto
Alas, his fears were justified
The Heavens thunder and roar and with hail
Cut the head off the wheat and damages the grain.
Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 315, "Autumn" ‘L’autunno’
Allegro
Celebrates the peasant, with songs and dances,
The pleasure of a bountiful harvest.
And fired up by Bacchus' liquor,
many end their revelry in sleep.
Adagio molto
Everyone is made to forget their cares and to sing and dance
By the air which is tempered with pleasure
And (by) the season that invites so many, many
Out of their sweetest slumber to fine enjoyment
Allegro
The hunters emerge at the new dawn,
And with horns and dogs and guns depart upon their hunting
The beast flees and they follow its trail;
Terrified and tired of the great noise
Of guns and dogs, the beast, wounded, threatens
Languidly to flee, but harried, dies.
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter" (L'inverno)
Allegro non molto
To tremble from cold in the icy snow,
In the harsh breath of a horrid wind;
To run, stamping one's feet every moment,
Our teeth chattering in the extreme cold
Largo
Before the fire to pass peaceful,
Contented days while the rain outside pours down.
Allegro
We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds course through the home
despite the locked and bolted doors...
this is winter, which nonetheless
brings its own delights.
Link to the cartoon which shows where the images hidden in the music (birds singing, dogs barking etc.) can be heard: • Four Seasons - Summer:...
Link to video of Kennedy performing the Beethoven violin concerto with Klaus Tennstedt in 1992:
www.dailymotion.com/video/x1d...
Video of Nigel Kennedy performing The Four Seasons: • Nigel Kennedy plays Vi...
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www.pearlacoustics.com
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enquiries@pearlacoustics.com
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As someone of a younger age (and supposedly a shorter attention span) I still very much enjoy these talks since they bring context. So thank you.
You’re very welcome! 🙏
Absolutely fascinating Harley, I remember the consternation of the “boiled shirt brigade” at the time to this album but I will always be grateful for it as I was not from the usual class of people in the uk who normally attended classical concerts but since early childhood in the mid to late sixties loved it more than the pop music of the time, two decades later with this recording I felt ok to “ come out” and admit classical was my first love. It was like he gave me permission to open that door and enjoy!
I walk past the hotel Sacher at least twice a week and always think of Vivaldi living in his very modest apartment in the building that the hotel has now replaced and think I may be walking in his footsteps, always sends a tingle through me. Another reason to feel fortunate to live in Austria and so close to Vienna, so easy to walk in the steps of the greats!
Oh absolutely. To walk the pavements of giants before us. What a privilege
I remember watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos as a child and falling in love with it. Years later, I bought the soundtrack and was enthralled by a version of Spring which had a tremendous amount of energy. This turned out to be from a recording by Elmar Oliveira and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwartz. It absolutely sizzles, although the recording may not be the best in the world.
So... I went looking for something with similar energy, but with a higher quality recording - the beauty of subscribing to a streaming service. I did visit the Nigel Kennedy version but it just didn't work for me - it felt more lethargic and the pieces that really sing with energy in the Oliveira version felt underwhelming. However, I still give it a listen from time to time.
The search continued - I can't tell you how many different recordings I listened to, but it was many. Finally, I discovered a recording by Gil Shaham and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Like the Oliveira version, it thrums with energy, is a great recording and is now my favourite version to listen to.
The journey was terrifically enjoyable.
Now if only I could find the full version of the Tannhauser Overture excerpt that Jerry Goldsmith (I think) recorded for the film: Explorers. I've listened to so many versions, but haven't entered the goldilocks zone yet. Still, a lot of fun exploring.
Thanks Paul. A very interesting contribution
For me! I fell in love with the 4 seasons, listening to Anne-Sophie Mutter, with the Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan..I got it on a cassette tape. and listen to it repeatdly on my work site on a big custom made speaker. Then later when i was older and getting into records..Bought the LP..🙂
Absolutely.
Thank you! Just a great talk.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice video. Educated and pervaded by that grace which does not put itself in the chair; but divulges and does not dispense, knowledge.
👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you. You’re very kind
@@PearlAcoustics No, I'm realistic.
I expect an episode on Arcangelo Corelli... when you deem it appropriate.
Greetings from Italy
@@luigimaccagnola5031 duly noted! 🙏
I was born in 1950…and I LOVED ❤️ classical music 🎼, but I was limited to what I heard on the radio , and I had a limited budget so I could not purchase it…let alone know what of the thousands of recordings were worth it 🤷♂️…so listened to smooth jazz and invested in that …so now with YOUR HELP and UTUBE and APPLE MUSIC,ETC …I can indulge myself to my heart’s content and I think 🧐 IMHHO…this is the best time to be an audiophile 🤗💚💚💚
Thanks for sharing!
@@PearlAcoustics I THANK YOU 🤗 so much for responding so quickly and I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE,EASILY UNDERSTOOD 🤔👍💚💚💚
what a FANTASTIC video
Thanks Julian. You’re very kind
Grateful, as always.
Fantastic episode Harley I loved it Bravo !!!👍👍
Thanks! 😊
One of my favorite records in my collection is my RCA Living Stereo copy of Vivaldi's four seasons. It sounds incredible and it has so much feeling.
ACTUALLY LISTENING NOW 🤗💚💚💚
Winter was always my favorite of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Nigel also made a version with The Berlin Philhamonic. The winter version in that is even more dramatic
@@PearlAcoustics Excellent, looks like I can order the CD!
Such a wonderful video.
Thank you Harley and team for sharing this with us.
Brian
Our pleasure!
I had never paid attention to this Kennedy. I am listening to the The Four Seasons in the order you suggested. I know this work, by others. Thank you 😊!
Hope you enjoy it!
Always look forward to your Great Recordings presentations. I love Vivaldi, even electronic transcriptions. My mom had a recording by I Musici from the 50's or 70's, that I heard a lot growing up. I like I Musici very much, their strings have a natural gritty sound to me, versus a glossy ultra-smooth sound. I like to hear the bow strike the strings, something you can hear in a live performance, something I look for (listen for) in a classical recording.
I would like to share with you and other lovers of great music, a band that I by chance discovered a few days ago - Big Star. Stumbled upon a documentary about their attempt at fame and their fall into obscurity and under the radar influence to many bands, Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me. Just when in 2023, you thought you knew everything about Rock you thought you needed to know. They put out two seminal albums in the 70's - #1 Record and Radio City. They are probably the first Alternative Rock band, and you can hear the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Country in the mix. They created a truly original sound. And, their music was very well recorded.
Keep listening, my friends.
Hi Chris. Thanks so much for your kind appreciation. And thanks too for your very interesting comment about ‘Big Star’. I will certainly look them up.
Thank you Harley for yet another very enjoyable and entertaining video. Interesting, informative and educational. It's great to hear someone speak who really knows their subject and I really appreciate the way in which you link music and hi-fi which are both very important to me and of course many others. Thanks again.
Glad you enjoyed it!. You’re very welcome
When I was growing up in Denver, the Four Seasons was one of the lp's my parents most ofen played. I have always been an admirerer of it. It is a brilliant work.
There are a number of various good recordings. I enjoy listening to the differences.
Me too, that’s the fascinating thing about classical music. When you tire of one, there are always so many others!
Thank you for the enlightening piece as always. There are many audiophile commentators out there but none that dig as deep into the music as Harley does (or the gear for that matter). The music is not the dessert with Harley , it’s the main course.
Thanks. Very kind
Thank you for the lesson 👍
My pleasure!
Great to watch, what a quality video!
Will go turn on the amp straight away and listen...
Thanks. Enjoy!
Excellent story telling. Gets me inspired about classical with interesting insights. Thank you!
Thanks!
Bravo! I learned so many things about Vivaldi and Nigel. Thank you.
Thanks
Great take on Vivaldi and 'our Nige' - a great british institution who, one year, was headlining at both the Proms and Glastonbury Festival! For a more modern 'take' try Max Richter's 'Four Seasons recomposed' - a concept album of a concept album!
I love the Max Richter version. Saw it live this year. Thanks for your kind words
Hi Harley.
I have the Nigel Kennedy album on cd.
It is a beautiful recording and sounds fantastic.
I love the piece storm.
Gr André de vries.
Thanks!
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Really great watch ! I grew up listening to late 70's punk and early 80's post punk. I came across The Four Seasons, the very record you have and I saw this alternative looking Nigel on the cover and bought it. Fabulous introduction to classical music, I still play it often. Thank you.
You’re very welcome! Thanks for taking the trouble to share your appreciation, it’s very motivational
Really enjoyed this. My goofy self got season tickets with the Mrs. to the Atlanta symphony 2023. We’ve enjoyed it so much. Brams Requiem for Germany a weeks ago. Incredible. Sold out. What an experience.
Thanks. Thanks for sharing your story
Brilliant video. Love Nigel. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot for this video, very well done!
Thanks Martin!
Such a terrific and fascinating presentation ----- Thank you
Thank you Thomas. Next up it will be Sibelius symphony No. 3 😉
Fascinating video, very enjoyable, thank you.
I have fond memories of this recording. My daughter was born in 1990 and required loud(ish) music playing of an evening to finally fall asleep. This was one of the CDs I would play to her as my taste in music (finger-in-the-ear traditional English folk songs) didn't seem to cut the mustard. Interestingly as she got a little older, if I played the CD she would still fall asleep.
Whilst I have heard the CD a lot I can't say I have ever really listened to it, so I am off to remedy that now.
Thank you Paul! I used to play my daughter Mozart piano concerto No 17. It had / has exactly the same effect.
Lovely video. Thanks a lot!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks
Bravo Harley, keep them coming!
Thank you. I’ll do my best
Thank you very much for this! So interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you
I just did few of those winter interpretations comparaisons and I agree, Nigel's one is fantastic! Thank god, I have a mojo 2 and I can mitigate 3k (and up) a bit to enjoy it more ;)
@@guystpierrecomposer 👍
Very interesting. Thank you.
👍
Harley, I very much enjoyed this video, I will be listening to your Nigel Kennedy recommendations.
Thanks for your appreciation
Great video! My first record for my first serious stereo (Thorens TD160 and Kenwood amp) was Philips Roberto Michelucci I Musici recording...which I still listen to. Thank you!
Thanks Clayton, very kind. Lovely comment
Nigel Kennedy concerts are an emotional feast.
A bit rambunctious in everyday life when playing becomes affectionate and subtle, almost caresses violin...
Thank you for pointing out The Doors album.
P.S.
May be 56 is a good vintage ;)
😉👍
Hi sir Fascinating as always , it’s amazing to me how you are able to differentiate between different interpretations of a peace of music . This must be the difference between those who listen and enjoy music, and such as your good self who understand music . Which I consider an enviable gift . Best wishes and kind regards as always. 😀👍👍👍
Thank you. You’re very kind
Beautiful flow and presentation! To me, Rachel Podger's version is the most beautiful out there and is very well recorded too.
@Factory Refresh
Thanks.
I've had the NK on vinyl since it was released in the 80s. I doubt I've been able to listen to the whole record more than once.
Tried again just now via Qobuz.
Nope. Not a great recording/interpretation to my ears, even after tweaking my tube preamp gain architecture.
Too harsh.
Podger is warmer, richer, deeper: Much better focused on the whole orchestra & hall acoustic than just the rockstar soloist.
Love Vivaldi!
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵
Thanks. Very kind
@@carlitomelon4610 glad that you gave it a listen. A little bit more obscure would be Chasing The Dragon's recording of the Four Seasons. The Decca Tree approach of the recording captures the monastery's ambience very well. Unfortunately not available as streaming. Performance wise, Ms Podger's version edges it out but equally fascinating or to a large extent hair raising performance on both.
@@factoryrefresh102
It occurred to me that the album covers pretty much describe the experience of listening to these two recordings.
I'll see if I can chase down those dragons.
Thanks!
🎵🎶🐲🤔🎶🎵
Great content.
Thanks
Thank you for reminding me of this amazing piece of music.
Btw,did you know you have track by Dead Can Dance named for you?
Album,Toward the Within,track title-
The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove.
Like the information you impart.
Cheers,more please.
Wow, I never knew that! I’ll have to look that one up! 😄 thanks for your kind comment
Playing the Four Seasons now
👍
Thanks Harley another good story. Interesting to learn Joshua Bell was not the originator of casual classical
😄👍
great review........what about the 2015 version of Nigel's Four Season.....? have you checked it ? how it compares to the 1989 version?
Hi, yes I did check it. The recording quality is much better. And I have to say, on first hearing, I prefer it.
I say Splendid Harley.
I love this series!
Sadly we don't agree on the NK performance of 4S.
Let's open a lively discussion here on favorite versions....?
Easy to compare now on Qobuz
🎵🎶🤔🎶🎵
PS
Ok fine.
I'll listen in the suggested order just for you Harley 🙂
Thanks. Very kind. I am not saying the NK’s is the best. I am saying it was a great recording because it was so revolutionary and changed peoples perspectives of what it can be. Plus he took it back to its virtuoso roots. With the violin, very much at the Center. But indeed, let’s see what others have to contribute to this topic.
@@PearlAcoustics
Yes, you're right of course.
Thanks for the education.
Charming as always.
Great to see you play guitar too 😊
PPS
Starting at Winter was a great suggestion!
(Making Plans For Nigel;-)
While it may never become my favorite interpretation, I appreciate his passion, skill and artistry much better since your presentation, Mr Lovegrove.
I'll go dig out the vinyl this weekend.
Thank you!
🎶🙂🎶
@@carlitomelon4610 you’re very welcome. Enjoy!
@@pietjepuk5427
THANKS for this wonderful suggestion!
I always play a version of 4Sessons when we observe the change of seasons here in Montana US. Your suggestion arrived at the right time:-)
Listening now with a mug of Tetley British Blend: Wonderfully clear and transparent recording.
Nice orchestral warmth, perspective & imaging. Great sense of the hall acoustic. Good dynamic contrasts.
I say, SPLENDID!
(Pukka, Nigel)
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵
Sorry,correction to my comment,the album is Into The Labyrinth.
🙏🙏🙏🙏
🙏
Harley great discussion as always. However I prefer the later version of the 4 seasons he did on the Vivaldi recording with the Berliner Philharmonic.
Thanks! Do you know, I am ashamed to admit that I was quite unaware of this version! I am listening to it now. Thanks very much for sharing this important information. I will update the description!
I take it that you’re streaming that recording. I’ve only recently realized the availability of lossless streaming, my recent purchase of a WiiM streamer has opened up endless possibilities of finding hitherto unknown recordings 😂
@@worthingtonmodelrailway8628 indeed!
🤗THANKS HARLEY, I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS, AND I FOUND IT INTERESTING AND INTRIGUING AT THE SAME TIME …I never heard about NIGEL,or his talents till now 😢…BUT NOW I AM GOING TO INVESTIGATE 🧐 your suggestions 🤗😎💚💚💚
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
Mr Lovegrove- You were greatly missed. As the world burns, we need a man of thoughtful resolve to fix our audio ills.
Thank you. I am glad my small contribution is appreciated
Is there a double thumb up button? 👍🏻👍🏻
😉🙏
Doesn't the painting of Vivaldi scream "I wanna be a rock star".
Indeed, he was absolutely that!
NB: Nigel Kennedy has some interesting political leanings - he is an avowed socialist. He supported David Davis's campaign when he quit his Shadow Home Secretary post to force a by-election, in protest over proposals to allow terrorist suspects to be locked up for 42 days without charge. Kennedy is a vocal opponent of Israel's policies in the West Bank, and, in the summer of 2007, he told a Haaretz reporter:
".......I was shocked to see these walls, it's a new apartheid, barbaric behaviour: How can you impose such a collective punishment and separate people? After all, we are all living on the same planet. It seems to me the world should have already learned from what happened in South Africa. And a country that hasn't learned should be boycotted, so that's why I don't perform in your country."
Not sure politics are really in place at this post, but as you bring it up here I feel a need to react. These walls and fences were build in a very different context as for example the Berlin Wall and Israel can certainly not be compared to South Africa. First Jews are indigenous to the area for thousands of years even when many later returned from Europe or other places. Secondly if your children and ordinary Jewish citizens are ripped apart by bombs on almost a daily basis for many years, as was reality in Jerusalem before the border fence, you might have to consider some extreme measures. Palestinians can still enter Jewish territory opposed the other way around. It’s on the Palestinian border that are the signs saying Jews can not enter punishable by dead. Both people’s Palestinian and Jews have legitimate claims to the region and this conflict is not as simple, but it are the Palestinians who always refused any compromise. They pay some lip service to a two state solution when talking in front of the world press or the UN, but among themselves they are talking of taking the territory from sea to sea and the annihilation of the Jews. Up to this day they are building tunnels solely to kill Jews instead of using valuable sources for the prosperity of Palestine. They teach their children the highest goal is becoming a martyr and gaining a privilege position in the afterlife with a reward of 80 virgins becoming a martyr’s harem by killing Jews. It seams so easy for pro Palestinian political supporters to step over this kind of backwards ideologies and realities Israel is struggling with. I don’t say the Israeli government is without fault. It’s an ugly conflict with ugly events, but it is really hard to negotiate with people who wants to wipe you from the face of the earth.