The Vivaldi concert was fantastic! The venue, Chiesa Evangelica Metodista, is hidden away off a sidestreet and wasn’t quite what I expected. The talented, professional musicians were perfection, especially Elvin Dhimitri, soloist, conductor, and “first violin of prestigious orchestras in Italy and abroad”
Dimitri, a strings quintet – three violas, violin, cello – and harpsichord gave a deeply heart-felt performance. He describes “The Four Seasons” as “a pillar of Italian and world music that tells about the cycle of life through an explosion of colors and emotions“. The small audience was highly-focused, and fully appreciated the outstanding performance.
The musicians performed the complete version of “The Four Seasons” violin concertos – Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each concerto included three movements and is associated with a beautiful sonnet describing scenes depicted in Vivaldi’s music.
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“Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi was a pioneer in introducing descriptive and programmatic music into his concerts. Through his compositions, Vivaldi evokes the environments, sounds, and moods described in his accompanying sonnets.” vivaldifourseasons.it
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Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, Baroque classical composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and priest, was born in Venice. He composed over five hundred concertos, utilizing a wide variety of instruments. Vivaldi is considered the “father of the concerto,” and his best-known work is “The Four Seasons Violin Concertos, Op. 8“.
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“Vivaldi’s innovative approach to music perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Baroque era. From the cheerful chirping of spring birds to intense summer storms, sounds of fleeing foxes in autumn, and the chilling rain of winter, his music vividly portrays the beauty and drama of nature.”
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Chiesa Evangelica Metodista
Compared to Rome’s abundant and massive Papal Basilicas, Chiesa Evangelica Metodista is a modest Protestant church. Located in the heart of Rome, it’s near Piazza della Repubblica, Via Nazionale, and Porta Pia, a few minutes from Repubblica Metro Station. The sixteenth‐century style church was built in 1895. As in many European cities – Prague, Vienna, etc. – the church also serves as a concert hall. The concert began at 8:30 pm, so the streets were dark when I arrived.
I’ll be returning during daylight to explore the area further. Rome is a huge city with many historical attractions. It would take a long time to thoroughly explore. Roman tour guides I’ve met say that even though they live there, they’ve only explored a portion of the city.
The interior of Chiesa Evangelica Metodista is a contrast to more elaborate and ornate Roman basilicas throughout Rome. The stained-glass windows, pipe organ, and walls are very beautiful. They feature “themes and symbols from the Christian iconographic tradition – lily, lamb, palm, and peacock”. Acoustics in the small church are excellent. Photography wasn’t permitted, but media shots are attached.
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“Unlike other composers of the Baroque period, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons offers an unparalleled depiction of the changing moods of each season.”
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It was a memorable evening in Rome and a world-class performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece concertos!