Penned in 1723 they remain among the most popular concertos in all music
is something I feel is POV
Penned in 1723 they remain popular
is something I feel needs improvement. After all, everything by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. is also quite popular. However, Im sure the reader would be interested to know that the music is still popular amongst symphonies (or on CDs or something) in which case it should be quite easy to "flesh the statement out", perhaps with a POV from a famous conductor, a discussion of attendance rates at such and such an event, or the like.
I would rewrite the intro as so:
The Four Seasons (Ital: Il quattro stagione) is the name given to four violin concertos (Opus 8, # 1-4) written, in 1723, by Antonio Vivaldi. The concertos, which are still played by modern musicians, are named after the seasons: "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn", and "Winter". Vivaldi, via his music, attempted to represent the "mood" or "essence" of these seaons. For example, one might view "Winter" as being dark and somber, whilst "Summer" might remind one of chirping birds and buzzing flies.
This being opposed to:
The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione in the original Italian) is the name given to the four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, Opus 8, No. 1-4. Penned in 1723, they remain among the most popular concertos in all music. Each of The Four Seasons are named after a season: "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn", and "Winter". The texture of each movement is varied, resembling its respective season. For example, "Winter" is dark and somber, whereas "Summer" has sounds reminiscent of birds chirping and flies buzzing.
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