Antonio Vivaldi's masterpiece ‘The Four Seasons', performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, is coming to Tauranga and Napier in April.

One of the most recognisable and loved pieces of music from the baroque era, The Four Seasons is a concert favourite and is frequently used in movies and television.

Written in 1723, the series of four groundbreaking string concertos were largely forgotten until a new recording in 1947 became a bestseller.

A 1989 recording by virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy reached No. 3 in the British charts and to this day is one of the biggest-selling classical albums in history, says a spokesperson for the show.

'The NZSO concert Four Seasons will also feature a performance of tango legend Astor Piazzolla's Vivaldi-inspired tour de force The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.

'Four exceptional NZSO violinists – Anna van der Zee, Malavika Gopal, Simeon Broom, and Alan Molina – will perform a season each as soloists in The Four Seasons and The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, directed by NZSO Concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen.”

Four Seasons is part of the NZSO's new Immerse 2021 festival, a selection of concerts and free community events, in Tauranga April 9-11 and Napier April 16-18.

The other concerts are Firebird in association with Ryman Healthcare (Tauranga April 10, Napier April 17) and Broadway Matinee with Project Prima Volta (Tauranga April 11, Napier April 18).

NZSO Open Doors, proudly supported by the NZSO Foundation, is a series of family-friendly free events at X Space, Baycourt Theatre Tauranga on 10 April (10.30am-5pm) and Municipal Theatre Napier 17 April (10.30am-5pm).

More details will be listed at www.nzso.co.nz

Tickets to Four Seasons in Tauranga and Napier are available from www.ticketek.co.nz