Vivaldi
The Four Seasons
Michael Morpurgo (narrator), Daniel Pioro (violin); Manchester Camerata
Platoon PLAT25265 50:13 mins
Clip: Vivaldi - Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, 'Autumn' III. Allegro
This refreshing new recording of The Four Seasons affirms the fruits of artistic collaboration, in this instance between violinist Daniel Pioro and author Michael Morpurgo. It is a welcome addition to Platoon’s catalogue which is dominated by popular music. Indeed, since its publication in 1725 these four solo violin concertos by Vivaldi have become staple fodder, on the concert platform and in the recording studio, raising our expectations regarding any new interpretation. This album does not disappoint – Pioro and his partners Manchester Camerata, offer sprightly tempos, imaginative ornamentation and buoyant continuo sonorities.
- Five unusual interpretations of The Four Seasons
- Michael Morpurgo story set to music by Rachel Portman...
The album opens with Morpurgo reading his poems about each of the four seasons, amidst snippets from Vivaldi’s music and a soundscape evocative of each. Pioro’s idiosyncratic approach, including a judicious use of tempo rubato, in each of the concertos revitalises this well-known music. I particularly enjoyed the bucolic character of the third movement of ‘Spring’, the arresting drama of the final movement of ‘Summer’ and the improvisatory character of the second movement of ‘Winter’. Among Pioro’s colleagues harpsichordist David Gordon’s extemporisations in the slow movement of ‘Autumn’ are particularly welcome, standing in direct contrast to so many lean and dull interpretations which tend to treat Vivaldi’s score far too prescriptively.
This release successfully captures the excitement and vitality of live performance. Pioro’s welcome interpretation oozes with panache and personality, serving also as a benchmark for 21st-century attitudes to this canonical repertoire. Bravo! Ingrid Pearson