Let's murder Vivaldi

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In his day, Antonio Vivaldi was well-known as a composer of operas, concertos and choral works, influencing the likes of J. S. Bach. But music careers can collapse quickly and when Vivaldi died in 1741, penniless, so did his music. Incredibly, the man and his work only became widely known again after the Second World War, with The Four Seasons leading the charge. In this series of The Essay, celebrating 300 years since The Four Seasons was published, Phil Hebblethwaite traces Vivaldi’s return to fame from the beginning of the 20th century to the modern day. He speaks to leading Vivaldi scholars and musicians who played an essential part in the revival to reveal a story of brisk technological change, war, politics and commerce, as well as music. 4. Let’s murder Vivaldi Vivaldi’s resurgence caught the cultural zeitgeist after the Second World War. Phil looks at the success of wider early music revival and speaks to harpsichordist and conductor Trevor Pinnock about his two landmark recordings of The Four Seasons using period instruments. Presenter and writer: Phil Hebblethwaite Script editor: Jo Glanville Producer: Joanna Jolly Series editor: Kirsten Lass Mixer: Jon Calver Commissioning editor: Matthew Dodd A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 3