VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS IN ROCK

Antonio Vivaldi, AKA "il prete rosso" (the red priest, because of his red hair), born March 4th 1678 in Venice, Italy, was a wide recognized composer and violinist in his time, but rapidly forgotten after his death in 1741. Just more recently, in the 20th century, thanks to the investigations of Italian scholar Alberto Gentili (a professor of music history at Turin University), he became one of the top figures representing the Baroque period in music. The Four Seasons is undoubtedly his more popular work and received the contemporary treatment more than once. Off the top of my head, I should mention a new composition by Astor Piazzola following the formal template of Vivaldi's work, and a "contemporary re-imagining" by Max Richter.

Darryl Way, on the other side, goes for a literal interpretation of the original Seasons, with just some room allowed for ornamentation in the slow moves, as classical tradition dictates. Really basic bass, drums, guitar and a pinch of (kind of cheesy) synth stay mainly in the background, providing a circumspect, very low-profile frame and a rhythmic base for what is, basically, a classical performance by Way with his violin. Of course, the main riff and some variations of Vivaldi (the 1970's track by Curved Air) comes to mind as soon as we come to the Allegros opening for Summer and Winter, and that's a delight... as it is the entire album, exquisitely chiceled with taste, brilliance and energy by this great virtuoso.