Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; plus works by David Gordon and Trad, arr. David Le Page
Orchestra of the Swan/David Le Page (violin)
Signum Classics SIGCD789 81:44 mins (2 discs)
The Orchestra of the Swan’s musical director David Le Page says of this album that it is a ‘timely project which finds a compelling way to engage with Humanity’s most urgent threat (climate change)… Earthcycle contemplates our impact with Earth’s environment and the disruption of its natural rhythms…’
Thus, the backbone of this recording is set out, with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as ‘a perpetually engaging jumping off point for creative projects’ – 300 years after it was written, performed in its entirety, and interspersed with traditional tunes sung by Jackie Oates and pieces composed by keyboardist David Gordon.
It is these nuggets of brightness and originality that lift the recording above yet another exploration of Vivaldi’s most famous composition, and the new pieces and arrangements add a particular vitality, which feels firmly rooted in the British Isles. Outstanding pieces are ones that bring out the versatile qualities of all the musicians, exemplified by David Gordon’s The Elephant and the Moth beginning intriguingly, but spilling over with charm when the pizzicato strings enter with the harpsichord.
Outstanding extemporisation from David Le Page on violin playfully swoops and falls and the piano solo, with walking bass and lush string chords, warms the soul. Jackie Oates’s voice towards the end startles with jazz timbres, fulsome chords in the strings, ending in a percussive, ambiguous spoken word. Later, a cheerful performance of The Bright Phoebus – arranged by Jackie Oates and Le Page – shows a remarkably unpretentious presentation of this folk tune. Its wassail-like qualities leave a smile on the face and it is a lovely example of the clear honesty of this project – refreshing in spirit and performance.