I attended my first concert on March 20th, 2015 at the Sumter Opera House, in Sumter, SC and it was an extraordinary experience. The Vega String Quartet performance was well produced; it was very energetic and well distinctive of Vivaldi’s passionate pieces “The Four Seasons. ” Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer and the Quartet seized Vivaldi’s Baroque style, while abstract artist Timothy Raines created two matchless acrylic pieces on canvas. The paintings were created as if they flowed with the music; his motion was one and the same with the Quartet, he literally materializes the abstract of the music.
The first piece of music was in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, “La primavera,” which represented Spring, and its first movement is allegro, second is largo e pianissimo sempre, and the third is allegro pastorale, which gave the piece a rapid movement and an upbeat texture. The second piece was in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, “L’estate” which represents summer, and its first movement is allegro non molto, second is adagio e piano presto e forte, and the third is presto, which gives the piece a slower movement with a chaotic texture.
The third piece was in F major, Op. , RV 293, “L’autunno” which represents autumn, and its first movement is allegro, second is adagio molto, and the third is allegro, which gives the piece a rapid movement with a comfort texture. The fourth piece was in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “L’inverno,” which represents winter, and its first movement is allegro non molto, second is largo, and the third is allegro, which gives the piece a very slow movement and a texture of joy. The Vega String Quartet uses string instruments which were the violin, viola, and the cello, to create an enlightening and passionate form of chamber music.
The program notes were very helpful, the notes kept me on course with the piece movements and texture. I observed the audience actions while the quartet performed and it was intoxicating to see how the performance pulled the audience in and maintain their attention. My favorite part in the concert was the second piece which was in G minor, Op. 8, and RV 315, “L’estate” which represented the summer season, the piece had a slower movement with a frantic texture, and this piece had the essences of a storm brewing.
I enjoyed how the selection unraveled into an exciting ending; as a whole I would have to say the concerto was a success. What I’ve learned in class played a big role in my understanding the concerto, it helped me to determine such things as minor, majors, tempo’s, and the difference between a movement and the texture in a piece. In “The four seasons,” the style was of the Baroque period, which the “The Vega String Quartet,” performed splendidly, Vivaldi’s piece is loved throughout the world and “The Vega String Quartet,” captured the spirit of his music impeccably.
