A superb online production which is worthy of watching, and listening to, over and over again. (Review by Keith Millar)
With the first Baroque 2000 live concert of the year due to take place on Sunday December 20 at 11h30, it is an apt time to reflect back on their recent excellent online production of Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Not everyone is a fan of online concerts, feeling that they lack the colouration added to the music by a venue’s acoustic properties and the ambiance added by a live audience. One also needs to own a fairly good sound system to compensate for some of these failings, and that is not something we all have.
However, on this occasion the concert is presented in the form of a “movie” which is a pretty inspirational idea. The music is the exquisite Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons which has to be one of the most charming and popular pieces of baroque music of all.
Spring celebrates all the joy, colour and sounds of this time of the year - and this is beautifully encapsulated in the effervescent and sensitive pictures and scenes in this movie. The costumes are from a fantasy world and there is an gorgeous, poignant performance by the Baroque 2000 ensemble. The result is a superb online production which is worthy of watching, and listening to, over and over again.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, impresario, and Roman Catholic priest. He is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. His best-known work is the series of violin concertos known as the Four Seasons.
Durban’s Baroque 2000 ensemble is led as usual by the spirited violinist Ralitza Macheva and features Erik Dippenaar from Cape Town on the harpsichord. Others in the ensemble are violinists Petya Koleva and Refiloe Olifant, Marco Mazzi on viola, Ralitsa Pechoux on cello and double bassist Yura Litvinenko.
The ensemble played with unrestrained joy, energy and with great flair in a performance very much in keeping with this wonderful music.
This excellent movie was conceived by Eubulus Timothy. It was produced by Seema Ramsewak and the Executive Producer was the Director of Baroque 2000, Michel Schneuwly.
This production certainly whets the appetite for more Baroque music. And the good news is that there is not too long to wait. This time it will be the live version which will take place at 11h30 on December 20 at the Mariannhill Monastery Church.
A festive programme will feature the
extraordinary soprano-coloratura from Cape Town, Lynelle Kenned. Tickets at the
door are R170. Ample and free parking - The Tea Garden is open for light meals
and refreshments.
For more information, call Michel on 082 303 5241 or sursouth@iafrica.com
All COVID-19 protocols will be observed. - Keith Millar
Tickets R10 to watch Baroque 2000’s, “Vivaldi’s Spring in the Time of COVID-19” can be booked on Quicket - https://qkt.io/wasZwe
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