Vivaldi 23.5: Accordion Concerto
Vivaldi 23.5 is Julien Labro’s original concerto for accordion and orchestra. Across four movements—Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring—the approximately 40-minute work draws on the imagery and musical character of the seasons while bringing the accordion into a contemporary orchestral setting.
Commissioned by Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Vivaldi 23.5 was premiered on April 4, 5, and 6, 2025, with Labro as soloist.
The work
The title Vivaldi 23.5 refers to the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth’s axis—the angle that gives us the changing seasons.
The concerto moves through four original movements, each shaped by the character of a season. Baroque references meet Labro’s own harmonic and rhythmic language, creating a work that looks toward Vivaldi while remaining distinctly contemporary.
The accordion is the sole solo voice throughout, moving between intimate, lyrical passages and the full color and power of the orchestra.
Read Hartford Symphony Orchestra's annual message (PDF)- Composer & soloist
- Julien Labro
- Forces
- Accordion soloist & full symphony orchestra
- Duration
- Approximately 40 minutes
- Commission & premiere
- Hartford Symphony Orchestra, 2025
The four movements
- ISummer
- IIAutumn
- IIIWinter
- IVSpring
A related program
Two movements from Vivaldi 23.5 can be paired with Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, creating a conversation between two very different musical worlds.
The program moves between the seasons of Vivaldi/Piazzolla and Labro’s contemporary response to them:
- Piazzolla Verano Porteño
- Vivaldi 23.5 Autumn
- Piazzolla Invierno Porteño
- Vivaldi 23.5 Spring
This is a four-movement program distinct from the full Vivaldi 23.5 concerto and from the established Eight Seasons pairing of Vivaldi and Piazzolla. Vivaldi 23.5 is not another name for either program.
Bring Vivaldi 23.5
to your orchestra.
The full Vivaldi 23.5 concerto and the shorter Seasons of Conversation program offer different orchestral formats. The shorter program pairs two Vivaldi 23.5 movements with Piazzolla; confirm the current score, orchestration, performing materials, and technical requirements with Julien’s team.