Vivaldi's Four Seasons.....featuring Elias Moncado and the PPO Strings.

By Dato' Danny Goon.

The best known of Antonio Vivaldi's works, Le Quattro Stagioni or The Four Seasons, was composed around 1718-1720. It is a group of four violin concerti, giving musical expression to each season of the year. The concerti had accompanying sonnets, probably written by the composer himself, which exemplified the spirit of each season that the music was intended to invoke. It would become an example of what would come to be known as program music, meaning music with a narrative element. An art form wherein the instrumental music intended to evoke something extra-musical. Each concerto was structured into three movements, fast-slow-fast, and just like the linked sonnets, are descriptive, reflecting scenes, events, and emotions associated with each season. His innovative use of musical techniques and forms, creates a rich tapestry of sound that brings the seasons to life.

Elias David Moncado, a German-Spanish-Malaysian aged only 23, had generously offered his services to PPO and brought his interpretation of Vivaldi's masterpiece to his native Penang while on a busman's, visiting family and friends on his summer break. With mum a Penang lang, the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) turned hope to reality by filling the E&O Hotel Ballroom with the many Penangites who turned up that Saturday, 10 August, 2024 to witness what would be a gift to their senses. Amongst the audience were extended members of the Oh Clan, including the soloist's maternal grandparents. Grandma was beaming proudly and bursting with pride, sitting upright in her wheelchair like the proud matriarch she is. Moncado was joined on stage by 16 members of the PPO Strings Section plus 2 young visitors, Clarice Ngo and San Choi, both UK residents here with their parents on summer break too. With growing ambitions and accolades earned in their respective National and Regional Junior Orchestras in England, both had sought out the PPO website to share their musical journeys. A quick audition, and resident conductor, Ng Choong Yen had no hesitation in drafting both Clarice and San into the concert.

Elias Moncado is the youngest winner of the 1st Grand Prize at the International Karol Lipinski Violin Competition, Poland which he achieved in 2019. He is also the 1st Prize winner at the International Valsesia Musica 2021, as well as the International Vladimir Spivakov Competition 2021. He is also the youngest prize winner of the International Sendai Violin competition in Japan achieved in 2019. Currently a scholarship holder of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Stiftung, he has done 3 tours taking him to perform as a soloist in Iceland, USA, Canada and much of Europe. Also as a prizewinner and scholarship holder of the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben Hamburg, he plays a violin by Giambattista Rogeri of Brescia (around 1700) as well as a G B Guadagnini, Turin c. 1771 on loan from a private sponsor.

His virtuoso interpretation of the Four Seasons, ably supported by PPO's String Section led by Tann Soon Pin and Judy Oh, brought the house down. Judy happened to be Elias's grandaunt, on his mother's side. Judy mentioned that our local musicians did not find it easy to play alongside a professional, and a brilliant one at that. He was such a talented violinist, at such a young age, and our musicians considered it a lifetime's experience learning from him. The rehearsals were masterclasses! Suffice to say, the PPO has come a very long way since its resurrection just over a decade ago. It has reached the stage when we receive offers to host and perform with established and internationally recognised artistes. Pianist Sir Stephen Hough comes to mind, having recently performed with PPO. And while we continue to receive such offers, the lack of a suitable performance theater does inhibit substantially our ability to host celebrated international artistes.

The fervent demands for an encore saw Moncado returning to the podium to reprise Tempo Impetuoso Destate, the 3rd movement from L'Estate or Summer. It was followed by a solo encore piece by Bach, Sarabande in D minor, said to be one of the more difficult partitas for solo violins, showcasing what an accomplished violinist Elias Moncado is becoming.

The concert was graced by His Excellency Dr Peter Biomeyer, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia. and Mrs Biomeyer.

Footnote to the concert -

It should be mentioned that for the 1st time, PPO conducted a social media contest on the Facebook and Instagram platforms to digitally promote the event. Contestants had to answer the question, "What is your favourite season in Vivaldi's the Four Seasons, and why?". Winners on each platform won 2 RM150 tickets.

Rachel Poh was the winner on Facebook.

Loh Jui Sze was the winner on Instagram. "