Review of Robertsons of Bakewell's Video Vivaldi and the Peak District, by Julie Bunting
This review is by Julie Bunting, and was published originally in
The Peak Advertiser, the Peak District's local free newspaper,
on 25th August 2003, and is reproduced with Julie's kind permission.
VIVALDI AND THE PEAK DISTRICT VIDEO
A few years ago I was given a Peak District video which never received a
second viewing because it was so poor. So I hoped for better things with
this professional video release from Bakewell-based Robertsons. Managing
to kidnap the remote control, I sat ready to fast-forward or turn down
the sound if either the scenery or Vivaldi wobbled.
Instead, it was the rewind button which came into play while Vivaldi's
Four Seasons was allowed full reign. Matching this musical masterpiece
to all the moods and seasons of the Peak was inspirational; as one
customer wrote from Devon: 'One could get quite emotional!'
Vivaldi's music provides the background to twelve groups of locations
throughout the year. Taking four examples, Spring Allegro takes the
viewer to Calton Pastures, Stanton Moor and along the rivers Wye and
Lathkill; Summer Allegro to the Upper Derwent Valley; Autumn Adagio to
Rowsley, Bakewell and Longstone Edge; and Winter Allegro to Robin Hood's
Stride, Millers Dale and views towards the Roaches and Leek. I would
have preferred to see the locations identified by captions rather than
on a separate list but fully endorse the absence of a spoken commentary.
The close-ups reflect what we expect of the changing seasons: spring
violets and a ladybird on a primrose; busy insects and fat rabbits; corn
stubble and bright red speckled toadstools; a curtain of icicles and
snow whipping around drystone walls. The music is synchronised to some
delightful movement, as natural as nodding harebells or water cascading
over Howden dam wall, or ducklings in a hurry to get back to the water.
Robertsons' film crew has not only been out in all four seasons, but at
all hours and in all weathers. Their magical film of Kinder under snow,
with the downfall frozen into immobility, could be a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for the intrepid cameraman. By contrast, Chatsworth appears
on the video in all seasons, reminding us that the Peak District is a
major tourist attraction. This video will delight visitors and
Peaklanders alike.
'Vivaldi and the Peak District' runs for approximately 43 minutes and
costs £6.99. Available from shops and information centres around the
Peak but in case of difficulty, please ring 01629 812087.
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[Created 13 Aug 2003. Last updated 24 Oct 2008 - 11:02 by Rosemary Lockie]