Competing (4) Seasons

It's generally not that hard to see Vivaldi's The Four Seasons live.  It's such a popular piece that it pops up generally once a year somewhere in Toronto.  A less common (but still not uncommon pairing) is The Four Seasons and Piazzolla's The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.  I saw that combo in Vancouver, but unfortunately didn't make it to a Toronto concert of the same, probably a year ago.

This week has the distinction of having two competing versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons at two separate venues.  I have to admit, somewhat sheepishly, that I am going to both, so I should be able to make direct comparisons.  Fortunately, the rest of the programs are different!

As it happens, Daniel Hope came through with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra at Koerner Hall in Toronto last Sunday.  They played Vivaldi's Four Seasons for strings and harpsichord but accompanied by guitar or lute, depending on the "season."  That was an interesting twist that didn't overwhelm the rest of the performers.

They opened with a very fine Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 104.  By the end of the concert, they had earned (or at least performed) three encores.  No question there is a bit difference in Europe and North America towards the encore at a classical concert.  Generally, I find encores extremely rare, unless it is a European orchestra on tour here.  The first encore was the last movement of a different Vivaldi concerto, then Gershwin's I Got Rhythm! and finally Weill's September Song.  An interesting change of pace.  Sadly, if you didn't already go, you'll have to settle for listening to his recording of the piece with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.

However, there are two dates remaining for the TSO's performance of Vivaldi's and Copland's Appalachian Spring: tonight and Thurs.  More details (and some limited tickets) here.  I'm going to the Thurs. performance, which I expect will be very nice as well.  Maybe the music will help clear up some of these early winter blahs, as we seem to have skipped most of autumn this year...

Edit: We saw Jonathan Crow lead the TSO last night.  It was a fine performance, but I am going to give the node to Daniel Hope, partly because I was intrigued by the guitar/lute accompaniment, but also the coughing was so out of control last night.  (I realize this is outside of the control of the musicians, but it is just a regular epidemic at Roy Thompson Hall.)  I did think the TSO did something a bit innovative with vibrato at the start of Winter, but it is a little hard to describe, so I won't try.