The Four Seasons from Vivaldi and Guido

​​Giovanni Antonio Guido was a very mysterious musician. Quite the opposite of his contemporary counterpart, Antonio Vivaldi.
Guido remains largely enigmatic due to the lack of archives on his work. He was born around 1675 and appears in the repertoire of violin students at the Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini in Naples.

He later joined the ranks of the musicians at the Royal Chapel, where he remained until 1702. His career took a major turn when he decided to move to Paris. There, he joined the court of Duke Philippe d'Orléans, who was to become Regent of France and who was a passionate music lover. Guido was appointed Master of Music at the Regent's court, a prestigious position. During this period, he had the opportunity to collaborate with other renowned musicians such as Morin, Gervais, and Forqueray, helping to spread Italian music in France.

Today, his music and that of his contemporary counterpart, Vivaldi, are being showcased at the Royal Opera of Versailles in the joint work, The Four Seasons.

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Between 1713 and 1716, Pierre Crozat, a French businessman and collector, decided to renovate his dining room and commissioned Watteau to paint four pictures on the theme of the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. It was probably as a tribute to this decoration that Guido composed his "Scherzi armonici sopra le Quattro stagioni dell'anno" around 1717. He based them on four anonymous poems entitled "The Characters of the Seasons.” Each of these sets of “musical entertainments” consisted of around ten movements. Although called “Concerto”, these compositions were more like French suites, with a subtle blend of Italian and French styles.
These music pieces are similar to Vivaldi's famous 'Seasons' but with divergences and a different artistic take making The Four Seasons by Guido that much more fascinating.

You will no doubt wonder who inspired the other while listening to The Four Seasons by our two composers at the Royal Opera of Versailles.
If you don't, that's just as well. All you have to do is let yourself be swept away by this light, spellbinding music.

Looking for more than a standard ticket to the show? To make your experience unforgettable, choose our premium option at the time of booking:
 

Champagne + Programme + Show

This offer includes a glass of champagne and a printed programme, as well as exclusive access to the best seating category.