Seasons: Richter, Glass

by Etienne Gara, Delirium Musicum

Overview

Max Richter's The Four Seasons and Philip Glass' Seasons were both composed as companion pieces for Vivaldi's Four Seasons violin concertos, and both have been successful in this capacity, in concert and on multiple recordings. It is less common, however, to hear them divorced from the Vivaldi, and this may be the first recording to pair them with no Vivaldi present. They have much in common; violinist and director Etienne Gara writes that the two works "cast an artistic blur over our perception of things we have always seen as given and immutable: the seasons with their familiar weather patterns, our perception of time and space, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons." Yet the two works differ in some fundamentals: Glass does not quote Vivaldi directly, preferring to draw a wider analogy between Vivaldi's motoric style and his own, and his violin soloist has a stronger personality than that of the chilled-out Richter. On balance, the two pieces make an interesting dialogue, exploring both the ways Vivaldi is heard these days and the differences between these two prominent and popular minimalist composers. The performances by the Delirium Musicum contemporary music orchestra are strong by any standard, precise and punchy. An intriguing release for fans of any of the composers involved. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	05/26/2023
Label:	Warner Classics
UPC:	5054197401930
Rank:	5372

Tracks

1. The Four Seasons~Spring 0
2. The Four Seasons~Spring 1
3. The Four Seasons~Spring 2
4. The Four Seasons~Spring 3
5. The Four Seasons~Summer 1
6. The Four Seasons~Summer 2
7. The Four Seasons~Summer 3
8. The Four Seasons~Autumn 1
9. The Four Seasons~Autumn 2
10. The Four Seasons~Autumn 3
11. The Four Seasons~Winter 1
12. The Four Seasons~Winter 2
13. The Four Seasons~Winter 3
14. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Prologue
15. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Movement I
16. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Song No. 1
17. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Movement II
18. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Song No. 2
19. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Movement III
20. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Song No. 3
21. Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"~Movement IV

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Etienne Gara   Primary Artist,Violin,Conductor
Delirium Musicum   Primary Artist,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Etienne Gara   Liner Notes
Anthony Avellano   Photography
Josh Rose   Photography
Fred Vogler   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Producer
Max Richter   Composer
Antonio Vivaldi   Original Material
Philip Glass   Composer
Curtis Berak   Harpsichord Maker
Peter Hastings   Photography
Robert Sargant   Liner Note Translation
Francesco Perlangeli   Engineer
Sergei Parfenov   Engineer,Mastering
Birgit Irgang   Liner Note Translation
Marc Gilfry   Editing