Last night, my sister and I went to a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, put on by Orchestra London. It was a late Christmas present for her and an excuse to finally go to the orchestra for me, and it completely surpassed my expectations.
Liz and I took the bus to St. Paul's Cathedral, and we were by far among the youngest people there, but we didn't care. I'd been looking forward to this performance since the fall, and we were almost nervous as we walked in to find our seats and waited for the beginning.
The focal point was the Four Seasons, but interspersed were solos by instruments from around the world, including lute, sarangi (India), pipa (China) as well as songs and speaking from Dan and Mary Lou Smoke, who promote a lot of awareness and cultural teaching about and for aboriginal people. Mary Lou Smoke sang at the 1976 Olympics, but this time they did some traditional drumming and singing.
The focal point was the Four Seasons, but interspersed were solos by instruments from around the world, including lute, sarangi (India), pipa (China) as well as songs and speaking from Dan and Mary Lou Smoke, who promote a lot of awareness and cultural teaching about and for aboriginal people. Mary Lou Smoke sang at the 1976 Olympics, but this time they did some traditional drumming and singing.
At first, I looked for the conductor but I soon realized the principal violin was the conductor, waving his violin like an extension of himself. He and the second violin kept echoing each other phenomenally, I was mesmerized. I couldn't believe the nuances and the tone of his playing- each movement was better than the next.
I was hooked from the first cheery notes of Spring to the triumphant finale of Winter. I enjoyed each movement even better than the first, and although Winter was usually my least favourite, but the way the orchestra played it was absolutely incredible. The entire final movement was so poignant and just made me want to rush out and join a chamber group right away.
I was hooked from the first cheery notes of Spring to the triumphant finale of Winter. I enjoyed each movement even better than the first, and although Winter was usually my least favourite, but the way the orchestra played it was absolutely incredible. The entire final movement was so poignant and just made me want to rush out and join a chamber group right away.
We ended the evening with coffee, a walk home, and each a half-piece of cheesecake. It was a wonderful outing and we felt quite cultured:)
All in all, it was an excellent outing to the theatre, and it was great to reconnect with our baroque roots.
