It’s hard to find a more appropriate theme for winter than Inverno from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni. Vivaldi took inspiration for his Four Seasons from four Sonnets, apparently written by himself. Each of the four sonnets is expressed in by a corresponding movement of the concerto: La Primavera, L’Estate, L’Autunno, and L’inverno.

Here’s the sonnet for Inverno in the original Italian followed by an anonymous translation. You can listen to a recording of L’Inverno by violinist Itzhak Perlman by clicking on the photo below.

L’Inverno. Photo by Geoff. CLICK ON PHOTO TO LISTEN TO MUSIC

L’Inverno

Allegro non molto
"Aggiacciato tremar tra neri algenti
Al Severo Spirar d’orrido Vento,
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;"

Largo
"Passar al foco i dì quieti e contenti
Mentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento"

Allegro
"Caminar Sopra ‘l giaccio, e a passo lento
Per timor di cader gersene intenti;
Gir forte Sdruzziolar, cader a terra
Di nuove ir Sopra ‘l giaccio e correr forte
Sin ch’ il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra;
Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte
Sirocco Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra
Quest’ é ‘l verno, ma tal, che gioja apporte."

La Neve. Photo by Geoff

Winter

Allegro non molto
Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting, stinging winds;
running to and fro to stamp one’s icy feet, teeth chattering in the bitter chill.

Largo
To rest contentedly beside the hearth, while those outside are drenched by pouring rain.

Allegro
We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously, for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and, rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds coarse through the home despite the locked and bolted doors…
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.

Many musicians and composers have been influenced by Le Quattro Stagioni. Here are a few examples that are definitely worth listening to:

1. An extraordinary version of Vivaldi’s Winter played on Accordion:  Winter played by Viktor Barinov

2. Vivaldi for electric guitar by the Spanish neo-classical band Dark Moor: Winter played by Dark Moor

3. Winter in Buenos Aires by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla from his Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas, also known as the Estaciones Porteñas or The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Invierno Porteño (Buenos Aires Winter)