The Deutsche Grammophon album was played by the violinist Daniel Hope and the Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin symphony orchestra, and conducted by André de Ridder.

The US launch concert in New York at Le Poisson Rouge was recorded by NPR and streamed live. Richter's recomposed version of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons was premiered in the UK at the Barbican Centre on 31 October 2012, performed by the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by André de Ridder, with violinist Daniel Hope. It has since been recorded by other artists. Ī version by Daniel Hope (violin) with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under the direction of André de Ridder was released on Augon Universal Classics and Jazz (Germany), a division of Universal Music Group, and Deutsche Grammophon, prior to its first live performance. The piece is a complete recomposition and reinterpretation of Vivaldi's violin concertos The Four Seasons.Īlthough Richter said that he had discarded 75 percent of Vivaldi's original material, the parts he does use are phased and looped, emphasising his grounding in postmodern and minimalist music. – Musicians using their bodies and different parts of their instruments to make percussive sounds.Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons is a composition by contemporary classical composer Max Richter. – Elements we’ve heard before – crickets, tango, glissando, all coming together in a fugue (when each player takes turns with a theme – before they all the different themes are woven together). Piazzolla: ‘Primavera porteña’ (Spring in Buenos Aires) – Icicles – the chattering of teeth and shivering. Vivaldi: Concerto in F minor, ‘L’inverno’ (Winter) – Hints of Vivaldi’s Summer interwoven like passing characters in a busy square. Perhaps the person is deep in thought – but surrounded by the city. – A love song between the solo cello and violin. Piazzolla: ‘Invierno porteño’ (Winter in Buenos Aires) – A section where someone is sleeping because they stayed up too late eating and drinking! Who do you think the solo violin might be?

Imagine the people stamping and linking hands. Vivaldi: Concerto in F major, ‘L’autunno’ (Autumn) – A reflective section introduced by a cello, as if someone new has just walked onto the scene. – Insects – played using a technique called sul ponticello where the musicians place their bow very close to the wooden bridge of their instruments to create more of a rasping sound. Piazzolla: ‘Otoño porteño’ (Autumn in Buenos Aires) – Thunder rumbling in the background – and then a dramatic summer storm. Perhaps it’s feeling a bit lazy in the heat? – The solo violin taking lots of time singing away. Vivaldi: Concerto in G minor, ‘L’estate’ (Summer) – An echo of Vivaldi’s Winter (when it’s summer in Buenos Aires, it’s winter in Italy!)

– Sliding movements in the violin, called glissandos, playing over the ‘chugging’ rhythms which set the tango pulse. Piazzolla: ‘Verano porteño’ (Summer in Buenos Aires) – A barking dog in the viola during the slow section. – Twittering birds in the trilling violins. Vivaldi: Concerto in E major, ‘La primavera’ (Spring)

Vivaldi the four seasons