Vivaldi's The Four Seasons by PolyU Orchestra

The Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) was extraordinarily prolific, completing at least 779 works of which no less than 540 were concertos.  But despite all that, most people know him today only as the composer of The Four Seasons. This is actually a set of four violin concertos, each describing over three movements various aspects of the seasons of the year.

Together with Mr Leung Kin-fung, Artistic Director and Conductor of PolyU Orchestra, the Orchestra is taking you on a journey of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

In Spring we hear birds singing, a shepherd sleeping and peasants dancing in the fields.  The oppressive heat of an Italian Summer is alleviated by bird songs (including a cuckoo and a nightingale), but finally breaks out into a violent thunderstorm.  Autumn evokes the bustling activity of the harvest, followed by merry-making and hunting, while the shivering cold of Winter is vividly depicted, as is a walk over the slippery ice.

1. Spring
2. Summer
3. Autumn
4. Winter