VIVALDI'S THE FOUR SEASONS

Astronomusic is a project of brazilian couple Adrianne Simioni and Zózimo Rech. Together, they compose a "spacey" music that wraps up in a cosmic drape a neo-classicism inherited from Baroque music. On their new album, the two musicians focused their attention on a monument of this prosperous era of classical music, the four concertos that form Antonio Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'. Many guitarists have re-arranged parts of this body of work, with more or less taste, yet no one before them reinterpretated all 'Four Seasons' with so much subtlety only with the help of electric guitars and synthesizers. In this modern adaptation of the most famous concertos of the "red priest", keyboard layers are in turn floating, humorous and threatening. They combine with a tempered harpsichord to keep the "continuo" throughout with much elegance. Together with guitars which share joyful notes, but also frightened or humble ones, it's a symbiosis that develops between them all, embodying perfectly this fluid harmony that the elements of nature follow in the change of seasons.

Thanks to their versatility and their sensitivity, Adrianne and Zózimo make their music sound very expressive. With this in mind, it's easier to understand that, next to fiery solos, that gave many violinists and guitarists a hard time, those solemn moments so typical of Baroque style are extended here in tentacles as humorous as they can be moving. And speaking of emotion, delicate pickings and imploring slidings that make the atmosphere so cozy are in abundance. The interpretation is impeccable, and the grace and flamboyance of a daring era find their way in the harmonious balance between virtuosity and introspection, as well as in the passionate game.

Our two passionate souls have taken care of recreating as best as possible the contrasts that Vivaldi brings to the fore in his masterpiece. For this purpose, frantic activity stands next to rest, tension and serenity follow each other, majesty supports modesty, pain comes after joy, always with respect for each other and with smooth transitions. Moreover, in a world paying so much attention to drum beats, it would have been tempting to produce some with synthesizers. Fortunately, it was not the choice made by our admirers of Vivaldi, the beauty of the contrasts between agitation and calmness would have indeed terribly suffered from a stifling rhythmic programming.

Using electric and electronic instruments to re-interpretate a pivotal work of the XVIIIth century, our brazilian couple's endeavour was risky, as it was easy to fall in the trap of the "freak of nature", with its share of breathtaking acrobatics and fireworks. This pifall was avoided thanks to a deep understanding of the whys and wherefores of both classical and cosmic music, and thanks to an ear turned towards the chromatic and melodic possibilities of modern instrumentation rather than towards its technical sides.