Four Seasons and the Lark Ascending by candlelight

This classical concert at Candlelight Concerts in Bristol features works by Mozart, Vaughan Williams, and Vivaldi, suitable for both new and experienced listeners.

Seats are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis within each band.

Programme

• Mozart – Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
• Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending
• Mozart – Flute Quartet in D
• Vivaldi – The Four Seasons

Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is a key work in classical music, portraying the seasons through four concertos inspired by poems and the natural landscapes of artist Marco Ricci. The music vividly depicts birdsong, buzzing flies, harvest celebrations, drunken revellers, barking dogs, summer storms, and winter ice.

Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, composed just before the First World War, offers a reflective contrast. Inspired by George Meredith’s poem, the piece captures a pastoral world in transition, with a soaring violin melody symbolising a lark soaring above an industrialising landscape.

Mozart appears twice in the programme. The lively Overture to The Marriage of Figaro opens the concert. Later, the Flute Quartet in D showcases the flute, originally written for an amateur flautist, with a bright and tuneful opening, an expressive slow movement, and a playful finale.

This selection of works delivers a varied classical experience accessible to all audiences, whether familiar with the genre or new to classical music.

Booking and Attendance Tips

• Arrive early to secure preferred seating, as allocation is first-come-first-served within seating bands.
• Check the venue’s website or contact Candlelight Concerts for exact times and ticket availability.
• Consider bringing a light sweater as concert halls can sometimes be cool.