Obsessed with Vivaldi's Four Seasons

[smdb01us]

I reluctantly counted the number of different recordings I have for Vivaldi's Four Seasons last night:

 

1. Karajan/Mutter, 1984. (This is the recording that did it for me, still my favorite)

2. Karajan/Mutter, 1984 DVD.

3. Nigel Kennedy's 1997.

4. Nigel Kennedy's 20th anniversary (CD and DVD).

5. Mutter/Mutter, 2011

6. Zubin/Perlman/Zukerman/Mintz/Stern, 1990

7. Perlman/Perlman, 2002

 

Geezz… I guess I can't get enough of it?

 

If you are really into this piece, which is your favorite? Do you have one that consider it to be incredible that I do not have?

[monteverdi]

I have only 3.

by far the best: La Petite Bande under Sigiswald Kuijken (Accent 2007)

Petide bande: as few instruments as possible but much more musical impact than a conventional orchestra.

[Musicophile]

Have quite a number as well.

 

My preferred:

Janine Jansen (very nice sound quality as well)

Freiburger Barockorchester (idem)

Giardino Armonico

[Old Listener]

I don't tire of The Four Seasons. I do give it a rest between listenings.

 

I have 7 recordings in my permanent collection:

recordings I've had for 35-40 years

Alan Loveday / Marriner / ASMF (very pretty playing of a traditional sort)

Virtuosi di Roma (gursy in a 50s chamber orchestra way)

 

more recent modern instrument recordings (The ones I listen to most often these days.)

Gideon Kremer / ECO (DVD)

Julia Fischer / ASMF (video)

Gil Shaham / Orpheus CO

 

HIP

Fabio Biondi / Europa Galante (a favorite too)

Sparf /Drottingholm Baroque Ensemble (not to my taste anymore)

 

 

Bill

[smdb01us]

I have only 3.

by far the best: La Petite Bande under Sigiswald Kuijken (Accent 2007)

Petide bande: as few instruments as possible but much more musical impact than a conventional orchestra.

 

Very interesting... I will have to check it out...

[smdb01us]

more recent modern instrument recordings (The ones I listen to most often these days.)

Gideon Kremer / ECO (DVD)

Julia Fischer / ASMF (video)

Gil Shaham / Orpheus CO

 

HIP

Fabio Biondi / Europa Galante (a favorite too)

Sparf /Drottingholm Baroque Ensemble (not to my taste anymore)

Bill

 

I have read a lot about Julia Fisher but I have not listened to any of her recordings. Is she pretty good?

[jhwalker]

Philharmonia Baroque / Blumenstock. Stunning recording in the original instrument family.

[Jay192]

I don't tire of The Four Seasons. I do give it a rest between listenings.

 

I don't know why I'm the opposite - I really can't stand it now. I guessing it's because I blasted it too much with Nigel Kennedy in the late 90's. It's a bit like my Tequila experience around the same time; can't even stand the smell of it now.

[smdb01us]

I don't know why I'm the opposite - I really can't stand it now. I guessing it's because I blasted it too much with Nigel Kennedy in the late 90's. It's a bit like my Tequila experience around the same time; can't even stand the smell of it now.

 

LOL! I can completely relate to that.

 

Speaking of Nigel. When his first recording came out I really liked it. Now, his exuberance and foot stomping technique are a little too much for me... I have his recordings for sentimental reasons but I really don't listen to them anymore.

[smdb01us]

Philharmonia Baroque / Blumenstock. Stunning recording in the original instrument family.

 

Is it available on hi-rez format or do you own the CD/lossless? I found it on Amazon on MP3 but I really don't want to invest on that...

[Boris75]

I reluctantly counted the number of different recordings I have for Vivaldi's Four Seasons last night:

 

1. Karajan/Mutter, 1984. (This is the recording that did it for me, still my favorite)

 

My personal favourite too, even though (or maybe also because?) it irks period-instrument fundamentalists.

[smdb01us]

My personal favourite too, even though (or maybe also because?) it irks period-instrument fundamentalists.

 

Hehehe... true. I am a purist too but somehow the range of colors and images that I get with today's instruments keeps me choosing this recording as my favorite...

[Vade_Forrester]

If you want a hi-rez download, try The Avison Ensemble's entire Il Cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (includes Four Seasons) on Linn. It's played on period instruments, but doesn't have as extreme tempos and phrasing as some period instrument performances.

 

Vade Forrester

[Old Listener]

I have read a lot about Julia Fisher but I have not listened to any of her recordings. Is she pretty good?

 

She is both pretty and very, very good. Some great recordings on Pentatone. Start with the Tchaikovsky VC.

 

You can find videos of her Four Seasons performances on Youtube.

 

Bill