Even if you don't know the title, you've heard Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons." It's one of the most beloved pieces of classical music around. In fact, its popularity probably works against it. Because the music is so commonly performed and so easy to listen to, it can be easy to write off its depth and inner beauty.

Which is why Thi Nguyen, associate artistic director of the Fresno Grand Opera, pondered for years a way to present "The Four Seasons" in a fresh and exciting way. The result: the world premiere of a program titled "A Life in 4 Seasons" that pairs an original film written by Nguyen, who also performs solo violin with a chamber orchestra.

The film intersperses artistic imagery with a narrative arc following a couple's relationship spanning three generations from 1941 to the present. It's told from the point of view of a grandson remembering his grandparents.

We caught up with Nguyen via email to talk about this innovative project. Some excerpts:

Question: Your screenplay is based on the anonymous sonnets upon which Vivaldi based his "Four Seasons." Tell us a little about those sonnets and how you translated them to a different medium.

Answer: The sonnets, in my belief, are key points in any type of interpretation of this work. For example, in the first movement, "Spring," the sonnet describes the birds' sweet song, and lightning and thunder. A black cloak covers the air. Some very powerful text is heard quite dramatically in the music.

The challenge was not to describe the beauty of spring and the birds' enchanting song, but to bring to life the darkness that is equally important in the sonnet and music. We are bringing the audience back in time to 1941, and the black cloak that covers the air is depicted as the invasion of Western Europe by Germany in World War II. The thunder and lightning is the war itself. The sweet song of the birds is the optimism and love of the couple depicted in the film.

How long have you worked on the project?

My thought of putting a film on the screen for "The Four Seasons" was first conceived in 2001. ... Life intervenes and the project got shelved, but the conversations continued. Two years ago, Ron Eichman (the opera's general director) and I were kicking around programming ideas. Basically he just said, "You've been kicking this around your head for 10 years. Let's do it!"

How do you describe the style of director Cooper Sy Blumenthal, the Long Beach filmmaker collaborating with you on the project?

It's best to describe it as "Artistic" filmmaking: visually stimulating, thought provoking, and creative storytelling.

As solo violinist, you will essentially be in control of the performance. Is it a challenge for you to basically have to multitask while making music?

Absolutely. I love to multitask, but this puts it at a whole new level for me. My role in the performance is to lead the orchestra, play the solo part (this is a series of four violin concertos), and to make sure that we stay in sync with the film. Quite a challenge, but very rewarding. Seeing the film as I finalize my own performance has changed so much of my interpretation of color, articulation and sound. What Blumenthal added in imagery has given me much more depth to my interpretation.

Like the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, and so do the sounds that emanate from the violin.

Read an extended interview with Thi Nguyen at fresnobeehive.com

Concert preview

"A Life in 4 Seasons," 8 p.m. Saturday, Shaghoian Hall, 2770 E. International Ave. fresnograndopera.org, (559) 442-5699. $17.50-$49.50.