[Ciel_Rouge]

Darker side of Vivaldi

I suppose the overplayed and over-sweetened renditions of the Four Seasons are to blame for the general view of Vivaldi as being cheerful etc.

Let me change your views a little bit:

I suppose this late piece is neither cheerful nor does it sound like the Four Seasons, does it?

I also notice his late works are becoming darker and more dynamic. Also, I think the key to discovering Vivaldi as much underrated are good performances. Most of them will give you this cheerful, oversweetened feel. However, consider Giuseppe Carmignola:

Apart from Carmignola giving you the proper violin, I hugely admire Trevor Pinnock for his harpsichord as well as conducting (yes, he does this rare combination). Perhaps you would like to take a listen on his rendition of "La Notte" - again one of the darker pieces:

Since I made the discoveries mentioned above, I noticed that Vivaldi is unique in a way. He turned out to be a very keen observer of sound - not only music, but also the everyday sounds - flies flying by bottlenecks etc. as well as birds, frogs and other things. I have the impression that his music is the power of nature rising at his command - which has nothing to do with the oversweetened look forced on his reception by the mass culture...

 

[Ciel_Rouge]

Hi Andre,

I guess it is not the whole Four Seasons that has been overplayed but the first movement of the Primavera and it was often played badly. Namely, the joy and energy contained in the piece was far too often transformed into "jolliness" with a high "artificial sweetener" content In a good performance such as the one with Carmignola, you will find the true energy coming from nature and the almost "violent" aspect characteristic of Vivaldi's music played the right way ;-)