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April 18, 2006
WILL-FM Airs New Local Series on Four Seasons Composer
Designed for both serious Antonio Vivaldi fans and those
only familiar with his well-known the Four Seasons
concertos, a new WILL-FM four-part local series, Vivaldi
for All Seasons, features some of the finest Vivaldi
performers in the world.
WILL-FM’s Vic Di Geronimo hand-picked selections from among
Vivaldi’s some 500 concertos and 90 sonatas to create the
series that airs at 7:06 p.m. Monday-Thursday, May 1-4. It
will be repeated at 11 a.m. on Sundays, May 7-28.
“This is not an academic treatment or a documentary,” Di
Geronimo said. “It’s an excuse to enjoy four hours of
Vivaldi’s music. I am sharing stories and tidbits of
information, but in a fun way.” He chose from among the
cream of the crop in performances and compositions. Di
Geronimo spent more than three years creating the mix of
full-length concertos, sonatas, overtures, and some selected
movements. “The first year I spent listening to all the
Vivaldi recordings in the Friends of WILL music library,” he
said.
At first, Di Geronimo said, he wasn’t going to include the
Four Seasons concertos in the series, because he
wanted to introduce listeners to Vivaldi’s other music. But
when he heard some of the spectacular performances of “the
seasons,” he was so impressed that he decided to include
them, he said. Each program in the series includes a
standout performance of one of the Four Seasons concertos.
“I didn’t want to organize the series around the seasons
because I wanted each program to stand alone,” he said.
Instead, he used other themes to group the music. The first
part is a tribute to Vivaldi’s composition of great tunes.
The second part focuses on Vivaldi the dramatist. The third
program presents Vivaldi’s music as highlights from the
career of an all-time “champion” among composers, including
a play-by-play of the Autumn Concerto. The fourth program is
a feast of Vivaldi concertos, sinfonias and sonatas.
All of the music in the series is performed by early music
groups on period instruments, Di Geronimo said. “When you
play Vivaldi on original period instruments, the music has a
whole new vitality that is very exciting,” he said.
Most of the recordings are from the last 10-15 years.
However, one is from 1980: a violin concerto with echo
features the ensemble I Solisti Veneti, directed by Claudio
Scimone. The echo violins are led by a young Giuliano
Carmignola, an internationally acclaimed Vivaldi interpreter
of today who performs with the Venice Baroque Orchestra. “I
chose that recording because I was so moved by the sweet
tone of both of the soloists,” Di Geronimo said. “Actually,
I’d say the echo is sweeter – that’s no surprise, it’s
Carmignola playing!” He is also featured as the soloist in
the Autumn and Winter concertos, as well as another violin
concerto in the first program.
WILL-FM’s Lisa Strassheim was production engineer for the
series. “Her musical and technical skills and sensitivities
are top-notch, and she deserves a lot of credit for how good
the series sounds,” Di Geronimo said.
A playlist for the series will be available at will.uiuc.edu
after the programs air.
Contact:
Mary Barrineau
Public Information Coordinator
WILL AM-FM-TV
217-333-1070
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