VOA文化艺术2023--Spanish Composer Imagines Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ with Climate Change

 

Spanish Composer Imagines Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ with Climate Change

Antonio Vivaldi's famous musical work, The Four Seasons, was first performed in the 1700s.

Many music historians call it a "masterpiece," the musical composer's greatest work.

The composition includes four parts for the four seasons: "Spring," "Summer," "Autumn," and "Winter."

Each part recalls the season it is aiming to describe. For example, the website Galaxy¹ Music Notes says "Summer" has a "slow start, portraying³ the weather as too hot for any movement."

"Autumn" is a "celebration of the harvest."

One music director in Spain decided⁴ to interpret the 300-year-old work for modern times. The composer and producer Hache Costa told the Reuters news agency that Vivaldi's work would have been "a lot more aggressive and dirty" if it was written today.

Costa said the weather is so different now that "if today someone were to compose the Four Seasons from a...realistic perspective, it would be...daring."

So, he updated Vivaldi's piece to reflect the real world. The work is now being performed in Madrid at the EDP Gran Via concert hall. Reuters said he added "prominence⁵ and drama" to the summer portion and shortened the other seasons because of global warming.

The musical group, or orchestra, performs the music in front of a video screen showing the effects of climate change – such as wildfires and dry weather. One part shows the clouds involved in a hurricane.

Costa created the adaptation of The Four Seasons to go along with the recent Global Climate Action Day.

He said he wants people listening to "feel really bothered...by becoming truly aware of what is happening."

He said the sheet music is freely available for anyone to play.

Ernesto Rodriguez Camino is president of the Spanish Meteorological Society. He said the effects of climate change in Spain could be "catastrophic."

He said periods of high heat will last longer and bring wildfires and the chance of strong rainfall.

When asked, Costa, the composer, said he did not think Vivaldi would have a problem with his changes.

Words in This Story

composition –n. a piece of writing or a musical work

interpret – v. to perform an artistic⁶ work that shows your own thoughts and feelings

portray² – v. to describe or show something in a particular way

bother – v. to cause someone to feel troubled or annoyed

 

catastrophic – adj. disastrous, very bad

1 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

2 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

3 portraying   

v.画像( portray的现在分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The artist has succeeded in portraying my father to the life. 那位画家把我的父亲画得惟妙惟肖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ding Ling was good at portraying figures through careful and refined description of human psychology. 《莎菲女士的日记》是丁玲的成名作，曾引起强烈的社会反响。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。