Our lovely ballet selection for this year’s recital is from the classic work, The Four Seasons. While our focus is on the wonder of the choreography and performance aesthetic of this ballet, it’s a treat to take a look at the composer behind the beautiful music score, Antonio Vivaldi. Understanding his musical masterpiece will further our immersion into all things The Four Seasons for the recital!
Antonio Vivaldi was a prolific 18th century Italian composer known for his violin compositions, being a talented violinist himself inspired him to create the more then 200 violin concertos within his lifetime! A violin concerto features music designed for solo violin and an orchestra, and this spotlight on the violin is notably featured in our Four Seasons music. Listen to parts of the score sometime and notice of how often you hear the violin take “center stage” with being the primary sound!
Most of Vivaldi’s work as a composer was never praised or experienced by a broad audience while he was alive, but during the last handful of decades his work for violin, flute, orchestra, and even his many opera compositions surfaced with popularity and appreciation.
We’re so thankful for Vivaldi’s amazing musical talent and for his contribution to the ballet world through inspiring modern day choreographers to feature his work within their beautiful ballets!
Enjoy this video clip of another lovely scene from The Four Season’s spring pas de deux
Happy dancing, students and friends!