It's a "devil went down to Italy" sort of affair.

This weekend at the Fulton Opera House, four men in tuxedos will demonstrate how fast they can bow, how deftly they can pluck and how sweetly they can stroke their violins.

Music director Stephen Gunzenhauser arranged this elegant face-off for the Lancaster Symphony. Each violinist will have a chance to perform one of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" concertos, and three of the four will take turns in the concertmaster's chair when the orchestra performs Bartok's folksy Divertimento for Strings.

By e-mail, by Blackberry and by phone, the four violinists shared their thoughts on Vivaldi, violins and what it's like to perform in concert a piece they've practiced since grade school.

Spring

Mauricio Gonzelez

(Answers translated from Spanish by Alex Rios, Intelligencer Journal Staff)

Regular gig: Acting concertmaster of the Bogatá Philharmonic.

Violin: A Stradivarius copy, made in France in 1990 by an award-winning Chinese violin maker.

First played "The Four Seasons": In school, at age 15.

Favorite recording of "The Four Seasons": Pinchas Zukerman and the English Chamber Orchestra.

On why he chose to play "Spring": There is no doubt that the four masterpieces take you on a journey ... I chose the first one because when the first note sounds, the people (listening) can't hide their joy.

To get in the mood to play "Spring:"  I might think about a beautiful landscape that is darkened by a storm and later awakened to a wonderful day.

On why he pursued a career as concertmaster: When one joins an orchestra as a violinist, you always wish to sit in the first seat. ... It takes great effort to get there, but once you do, you realize that it's a huge responsibility.

Summer

Michael Jamanis

Regular gigs: Violinist in The Newstead Trio, adjunct professor at Franklin & Marshall College, chair of the strings department at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.

Violin: Made in Venice, Italy, in 1892 by Eugenio Degani. "I love this violin; it's been through a lot."

First played the "Four Seasons": I don't remember. I teach "Spring" a lot, and every time I do, I learn something new.

Favorite Recording of "The Four Season": Gidon Kremer's "The Eight Seasons," which pairs Vivaldi's classic with Piazzolla's "Four Seasons" tangos.

On why he chose to play "Summer:" I didn't choose it. My wife chose for me. She's better at making decisions.

More seriously: It has a lot of fast bowings. During the first two movements, the music goes back and forth, fast and slow. Vivaldi can't decide what he wants to do. ("Summer") has that twist, the sadness and the storm.

Autumn

Igor Yuzefovich

Regular gigs: Concertmaster of the Lancaster Symphony since 2004; associate concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony since 2006; violinist in the Monument Piano Trio.

Violin: A Czech copy of a violin by made by Giuseppe Rocca. Probably dates to the early 1990s.

First played the "Four Seasons": It's one of those pieces musicians have heard since birth. I can't remember the first time I played it.

Favorite recording of "The Four Seasons": Stephen Gunzenhauser conducting the Capella Istropolitana. You can download it from iTunes for 99 cents!

On what gets him in the mood to play "Autumn": Like getting ready for any piece of music, I try to visualize the music in my head before playing.

Winter

Odin Rathnam

Regular gig: Concertmaster of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra since 1995.

Violin:  Made in Bergamo, Italy, in 1755 by Bartolomeo Calvarola. It's a cannon. It's loud as heck. Unless one of the other guys shows up with a Strad, it will be the loudest gun out there.

First played Vivaldi's "Four Seasons": Last November, with the Harrisburg Symphony. But I've played "Winter" and "Spring" many times, and I've been messing around with them all since I was a little kid.

Favorite season: I used to say "Winter." Now I could play any of them and have a blast.

On why he became a concertmaster: Having some stability is very important for a young violinist ... but I'm still free to do a lot of solo and chamber music. … There was a chance to make a difference in Harrisburg. I'm very proud of our fiddle section, and all our strings.

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, today 8 p.m., Sat. 3 and 8 p.m., Sun. 7:30 p.m., Fulton Opera House, 12 N. Prince St., $21-$55, 397-7425.