Instrumental music as literally programmatic as The Four Seasons was rare in the 18th century. Judging by a pirated French edition of The Four Seasons and early reports of French performances, these concertos must have had the same immediate appeal for 18th-century listeners as they do today. Il Cimento’s dedication to von Morzin implies that his orchestra had already performed The Four Seasons. Vivaldi, a priest, was also a famous violinist of the time and boasted the title maestro di concerto of the Pio Ospidale della Pietà, a distinguished school of music, and maestro in Italia of the Austrian Count von Morzin (cousin to Haydn’s earliest patron). The first four of these were Le Quattro Stagioni, or The Four Seasons. The Story: In 1725, Antonio Vivaldi published a collection of 12 concertos under the collective title, Il Cimento dell’ Armonia e dell’ Inventione (“The Contest between Harmony and Invention”). In addition to a solo violin, this piece is scored for strings. Title: The Four Seasons, op.8 Composer: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: Last performed Novemwith Larry Rachleff conducting and soloist Jennifer Koh.

Four seasons violin