Review: The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra brings VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS to modern listeners

Jack Singer Concert Hall was packed with a sold out crowd of music lovers of all ages and backgrounds. The grandeur of the hall with the Carthy organ looming above the orchestra was a sight to behold. There was an introduction to the evening’s lineup and an emphasis was placed on the excitement of hosting that evening’s conductor / violinist Timothy Chooi (pronounced “Chewy”). The hype was well deserved as the audience was enthralled from the first notes.

The first half of the performance featured Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, a transformative set that was reminiscent of adventures on the high seas. The orchestra was elegantly synchronous, to the point that it felt almost inhuman how perfectly the music emanated from the stage. Timothy stood for the entirety of the evening’s performance, not willing to be contained to a fixed seat, the music radiating from his entire being, making the performance a feast for the eyes and ears.   

It was captivating to watch a sea of bows gracefully swaying in time, and just as quickly transitioning to pizzicato, daintily plucking the strings for a spritely sound. There wasn’t a single musician on stage who did not perform to the absolute highest standard, a true testament of the dedication to their craft. This string orchestra transitioned next to the Traditional Nordic Suite as arranged by the Danish String Quartet. There was a haunting tone to the opening number which soon transitioned into a high spirited layering of sounds that lifts the melody into a more heartfelt and uplifting atmosphere.

It was quite intriguing to see Timothy manage to conduct the orchestra through subtle head nods, movement in specific directions, and what I can only assume are covert bow movements that signalled his intention to his fellow musicians. I daresay the orchestra is so attuned to each other and their music that they could likely perform flawlessly with little direction. The final song of the set ‘The Dromer’ was such a powerful piece of music with sections of such high speed, intentional performance that it was hard to even imagine that a human’s fingers could move at such speeds. The audience was thankful for intermission to reflect on the wonderful music they had enjoyed, yet eager to continue to the evening’s main draw.

The second half of the evening featured Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in all their remarkable glory. Classical fans immediately recognized the energetic ritornello, balancing the raw power of the full orchestra with moving solo pieces. The suite truly paints a picture of each season for the audience, with the instruments perfectly mimicking the Spring sounds of birdsongs as if the audience sat not in a grand hall, but in a dew-covered meadow in the Alps. Each transition of the season perfectly conveyed the emotion and feeling of that particular time of year. It is amazing that music can extract such vivid imagery from the depths of our own imaginations. 

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