Search - Vivaldi, I Musici :: 4 Seasons

Very good performance, great bargain, something extra

A. B. Crockett | Colorado USA | 12/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, the earlier reviewer is right in that the 1982 Philips recording with Pina Carmirelli and I Musici is probably the best modern-instruments version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons -- based on hearing most of the major-label releases. However, this performance by Robert Michelucci is, in my opinion, much better than that reviewer gives it credit for. I find Roberto Michelucci's playing to be just fine, with plenty of expressiveness, although somewhat more stolid rythmically. Besides, I sometimes enjoy hearing the pieces played with a little less passion and a little more transparency, and this one (despite being older than the Carmirelli version) comes closer to capturing the lean style that modern-instruments versions began to adapt following the success of "original instruments" versions. This undescores that I Musici was ahead of its time in many respects by championing the small-ensemble approach to the Baroque and Early Classical (e.g., Mozart) repertoires. (In terms of originial instruments versions, I count Hogwood's, with a different soloist for each concerto, to be without peer; I get goosebumps every time I hear it. Standage/Pinnock on the Archiv label is only slightly less great).

Combined with the good performance and recorded sound, this Michelucci version of the Seasons also has two additional concertos well worth hearing. Following the Seasons is "La Caccia," from the same set of 8 concertos(Op. 8) as the Four Seasons. Its name means "The Hunt," and it's a jaunty piece. Then comes "Concerto per echo in lontano" for four solo violins. The ensemble (also I Musici, of course) is arranged into two groups, one of which echos the other from farther off-mike at periodic places throughout the piece. It's an interesting concerto, slightly ethereal, and quite unique.

Be aware that this Michelucci recording has since been re-released twice with different covers. An identical release is currently available on Universal Classics (a Philips budget label), with the Four Seasons represented on the cover by a basketball, baseball, football, and hockey stick. Must be for Americans who want to have this enduring piece in their ecclectic CD collections but really prefer sports. Whatever turns your crank. The other release of Michelucci's performance, also on Philips (and I assume also from 1990), pairs the Four Seasons with three concerti from Op. 3.

Bottomline, this release should not be overlooked by someone wanting a very good Four Seasons with something extra to round out the disc. Besides, with the Pina Carmirelli version no longer available -- except paired with a DVD performed by yet another I Musici soloist, Federico Agostini -- the bargain price of the Michelucci disc makes even more sense for price-conscious buyers.

One more thing: The recording of the Four Seasons by Felix Ayo and I Musici (again on Philips) also is a lot better than the earlier reviewer suggests, although I would put it third behind the other two for those wanting a modern-instsruments version by an Italian group. Again, just my opinion, and I like the fact that it provides a nice version of "L'Amoroso," one of the Maestro's prettiest violin concerti, and one that is quite widely recorded. The earliest recording of L'Amoroso that I know of was on Deutsche Grammophon with cover art (a photo of a young woman) taken from the movie "Elvira Madigan," for which that performance was on the soundtrack. That old recording is still around on DG budget labels and is nice, but rather romantic (in its lush, big-orcherstra sound, with Herbert von Karajan, no less). Several other versions of L'Amoroso are also available, including a great original-instruments performance by Andrew Manze on Philips.

P.S. Stay away from the Four Seasons by I Solisti Veneti (Claudio Scimone), despite its inclusion of three other named concertos from Op. 10. Salvatore Accardo's version, featuring a different Stradivarius for each concerto, is okay, as are two versions on modern instruments with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. I'm personally unimpressed with versions by the numerous new, young violin phenoms, who mostly try to impress with their virtuosity instead of their understanding of the music. Of course, it's all a matter of taste.

Lots of recordings out there, but you can't go wrong with this one, especially if you want to hear the "echo" concerto."