Antonio Vivaldi (1678 –1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and Roman Catholic priest. He composed the group of four violin concertos in 1718−1720. There is some debate as to whether the four concertos were written to accompany four sonnets or vice versa. It is not known who wrote the accompanying sonnets, but it is probable that Vivaldi wrote them himself. In addition to the sonnets, Vivaldi provided instructions such as “The barking dog” (in the second movement of “Spring”), “Languor caused by the heat” (in the first movement of “Summer”), and “the drunkards have fallen asleep” (in the second movement of “Autumn”).
The text of the sonnets is available in Italian and English here:
https://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.html
Performed on original instruments by Early Music Ensemble Voices of Music. Cynthia Miller Freivogel, Carla Moore & Alana Youssefian, soloists.
Image drawing by Pier Leone Ghezzi (1723).
