“The Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; there are four seasons in the mind of men” – John Keats.
Starting with this quote Bill plays many works inspired by summer, fall, winter, and spring. We’ll hear the boundless majesty of the summer sun in Haydn’s Die Jahreszeiten, and the frosty and shivering winds of Vivaldi’s Winter, and then to spice up this week, we’ll hear Astor Piazzolla’s tango, Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas) performed by the Trio Solisti. Bill will recite poems that complement the seasonal music, and we’ll listen to Tchaikovsky’s Seasons performed by Yefim Bronfman.
Four Seasons
Playlist
Episode 1
Franz Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten
“Der Frühling”
RIAS Chamber Chorus & Freiburg Baroque/Jacobs; Peterson, soprano; Güra, tenor; Henschel, baritone
HM 901829
28:43
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op. 37a
April, May, and June
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Sony 60689
11:11
Astor Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
“Primavera Porteño”
Trio Solisti
Bridge 9296
4:54
Dr. James Cross: Sacred Rain
Christopher O’Riley, piano
live recording
3:12
Episode 2
Franz Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten
“Der Sommer”
RIAS Chamber Chorus & Freiburg Baroque/Jacobs; Peterson, soprano; Güra, tenor; Henschel, baritone
HM 901829
24:11, 9:25
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Seasons
July, August, and September
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Sony 60689
8:13
Astor Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
“Verano Porteño”
Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer, conductor and violin
Nonesuch 79568
6:03
Episode 3
Franz Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten
“Der Herbst”
English Baroque Soloists & Monteverdi Choir/Gardiner; Bonney, soprano; Johnson, tenor; Schmidt, baritone.
Archiv 431818
21:29, 11:28, 1:13
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Seasons
October, November, and December
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Sony 60689
11:30
Astor Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
“Otoño Porteño”
Daniel Barenboim, piano; Rodolfo Mederos, bandoneon; Hector Console, double bass
Teldec 13474
4:53
Episode 4
Franz Joseph Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten
“Der Winter”
RIAS Chamber Chorus & Freiburg Baroque/Jacobs; Peterson, soprano; Güra, tenor; Henschel, baritone
HM 901829
20:27, 10:37
Peter Tchaikovsky: The Seasons
January, February, March
Yefim Bronfman, p.
Sony 60689
9:57
Astor Piazzolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
“Invierno porteño”
Gidon Kremer & Kremerata Baltica
Nonesuch 79568
6:42
Episode 5
Franz Joseph Vivaldi: Violin Concerto In E, RV 269, The Four Seasons
“Spring”
LPO/Perlman; Itzhak Perlman, violin
EMI 74761
10:45
Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in G Minor, RV 315: The Four Seasons
“Summer”
Kremerata Baltica/Gidon Kremer, violin
Nonesuch 79568
9:52
Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto In F, RV 293, The Four Seasons
“Autumn”
The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock; Simon Standage, violin
Archiv 400045
10:42
Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in F Minor, RV 297, The Four Seasons
“Winter”
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; Gil Shaham, violin
DG 439933
8:41
James P. Johnson: “Snowy Morning Blues” (excerpt)
James Johnson, piano
GRP 604
1:13