Thursday, June 26, 2008

Le Quattro Stagioni Di Vivaldi


Vivaldi's Four Seasons


While in Venice last month I attended a concert of Vivaldi's four seasons. The musicians were in period costume and although I went as a reluctant observer, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The setting was also very interesting, the main hall of the Scuola Grande Di San Teodoro designed by Baldassarre Longhena. I primarily went along to draw and found myself swept along by the energy and excitement generated by the Venetian vituoso's. The faster they played the faster I drew, when the music was quieter and slower I drew accordingly.I did about 9 sketches whilst they played, catching the movement of each musician as they played wasn't easy and therefore each sketch is a summation of a period in time rather than a frozen moment like a photograph. Here is a small selection from the concert.