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Mon, 17 Jan 2000 13:04:54 -0800 |
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Juozas Rimas wrote:
>What can you say about Vivaldi's music? Like many, I know the Four Seasons
>and I like them. However, after finding out Vivaldi has written the total
>of almost 50 concerti, 39 operas, 23 symphonies etc, I started to worry
>about the relation of quantity and quality. Could you please assure me
>the seasons are his best work and I don't have to bother digging deeper?
First of all, I think the number was closer to 500 concertos. Back when
I started listening to classical music I really only listened to Baroque
music. Vivaldi was a very early favorite of mine. Unfortunately, my
opinion of his music quickly started to diminish. I love the 4 seasons
(and the entire Op.8 which has some great works besides the famous four)
but have not found much other Vivaldi music I like. I started collecting
the Vivaldi works and was continually disappointed by each one. Op.3 L'
Estro Armonico was supposed to be good...BLAH!! Op.4 La Stravaganza
considered by many to be a masterpiece collection...BLAH! So many people
like the Gloria in D but I am not one of them. I feel bad sometimes for
having such a low opinion of Vivaldi's general output. I am as big a
Baroque fan as anyone but I just can't listen to Vivaldi.
AS I said, I DO think very highly of the cello sonatas and I still love
Opus 8. I heard some selections from Opus 10 and/or 11 the other night and
I did like them more than usual. I think I am just not a fan of the light
flaky music which I associate with Vivaldi. I don't mind light but I won't
stand for flaky. Maybe this is how I feel about Mozart and the reason I
just can't listen to his music either. I'll take some Henry Purcell or
Marin Marais or Matthew Locke any day of the week. Bottom line: I don't
think you'll find anything from Vivaldi that will interest you any more
than the 4 seasons.
--Wes Crone
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