OUT NOW | Violinists Tessa Lark and Nikki Chooi's New CD "The Four Seasons"

Recorded with the Buffalo Philharmonic and JoAnn Falletta, the album juxtaposes Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, played by Chooi, with Piazzolla's The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, played by Lark

2021 marks the 100-year anniversary of the birth of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. To celebrate, the Buffalo Philharmonic is releasing a CD comprised of two recordings from their 2020 BPO OnDemand Series. The CD will feature the orchestra's concertmaster, VC Artist Nikki Chooi, as soloist in Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."

Alongside the Vivaldi, the recording will also feature Piazzolla's "Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas," or "The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires," played by VC Artist Tessa Lark. Written in tango style, the piece transports the listener to the streets of Argentina. The recording marked Lark's return to working with an orchestra following the early days of the pandemic.

"It was so moving to play with an orchestra again after 9 months, especially one as dear to me as the BPO, and with repertoire as captivating as the Piazzolla," she said. "That concert week in itself was an experience for the books, but after hearing the recording of our performance together we really wanted to be able to continue sharing and reliving that musical moment. The Piazzolla, along with Nicky’s transcendent performance of Vivaldi, made a perfect memento of this extraordinary past year; and I’m thrilled to release a recording of Piazzolla’s music on his 100th anniversary!"

Lark added that the pandemic has strengthened her appreciation for the unique context of live performance. "The last 16 months have really deepened my awe of music’s power to take us straight to the essence of the present and relieve us momentarily of our struggles — and so, as with any recording I make, I hope listeners will find themselves completely immersed in the world of the music, the performance, and the moment," she said.

You can purchase the CD on the BSO's own label, Beau Fleuve, here.