Classical 4 Seasons



December 7, 2020. What do Antonio Vivaldi and Astor Piazzola have in common? The German violinist Arabella Steinbacher. Her new album Four Seasons features the seasons heard through the music of Vivaldi, with his most famous work, The Four Seasons, and Piazzola with his Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.

The Seasons is written for a fairly large late-Classical orchestra, a chorus singing mostly in four parts, and three vocal soloists, representing archetypal country folk: Simon (bass), Lucas (tenor), and Hanne (soprano). The solo voices are thus the same three as in The Creation. The Four Seasons, composed in 1723, is one of Baroque legend Vivaldi's most famous works for violin. Here's a very special performance of one of the movements, from one of Europe's top chamber orchestras. We usually associate Vivaldi with Venice and the Italian sun.

Arabella, who was born in 1981 to a German father and a Japanese mother, began studying the Suzuki method for violin at the age of three. She went on to the Munich College of Music and later studied with Anne-Sophie Mutter's 'Circle of Friends,' an organization that supports emerging string players.

Classical

Classical Music 4 Seasons

Arabella was hesitant at first to add to the vast number of recordings of Vivaldi's classic, but as she put it, 'This is still MY first recording of it!' As for Piazzola, Arabella says she loves 'the passion, longing and melancholy' of his music.

The album is arranged to best contrast the composers' two styles. Each season alternates between Piazzola and Vivaldi. Piazzola says he didn't think of his Four Seasons as a cycle consisting of several pieces. They were written as individual works between 1964 and 1970 and premiered in Buenos Aires featuring his Quinteto Nuevo Tango in 1970. His Seasons clearly employ the feel of the tango.

Listen to Arabella play Vivaldi's 'Winter' with the Munich Chamber Orchestra:

Contrast that with 'Summer' by Piazzola: Download adobe flash player mac os x.

Classical Music 4 Seasons

Last year, Arabella played '20 Questions' with the Violin Channel:

Enjoy the contrast of the four seasons in the northern hemisphere of Vivaldi and the southern hemisphere of Piazzola in Arabella Steinbacher's Four Seasons, the WRTI Classical Album of the Week.

4 Seasons Classical Youtube

View the discussion thread.