Violinist Renaud Capuçon Records Vivaldi and Chevalier de Saint-George
Released on Warner Classics, the French violinist plays with the Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne, of which he is the conductor and artistic director
For their latest album, French violinist Renaud Capuçon and Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne performs Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ Violin Concerto No. 1 in C major and No. 9 in G major.
Written during the 1720s, The Four Seasons comprises four violin concertos, each with three movements. The full work is often associated with a set of poems about the seasons — attributed to Vivaldi, who set music to the text.
Capuçon explained that he had refused to play The Four Seasons for many years due to its countless renditions in concert, as well as its presence “on the metro [and] on telephone answering machines.” However, his view on the piece changed as he gained more experience.
“One time, I played, and was blown away by the power of this piece, and suddenly I thought, wow, it’s famous because it’s amazing,” Capuçon reflected on Vivaldi’s work. “What amazes me every time we play it — and of course we have heard it a million times — each time feels fresh and new, proof that this piece really is first-class.”
The composer of over 12 violin concertos, Saint-Georges also wrote two operas and many symphonies. Capuçon commented that Saint-Georges was an inspiration for a young W.A. Mozart, whose own violin concertos bear the influence of Saint-Georges’ light-hearted style.
Having joined Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne as artistic director and conductor in May 2021, Capuçon has enjoyed a successful partnership with the group. “I love their sound, their energy…everybody is involved, it’s a strong group of players and a tremendous joy to play with…So, this album I think is full of life and full of hope.”
To purchase and listen to the album, click here.
An introduction to the album can be viewed below.
Capuçon began his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris at age 14. His mentors have included Thomas Brandis, Isaac Stern, Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, and Franz Welser-Möst. He was most recently appointed artistic director of France’s Rencontres musicales d’Evian.
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