"This excellent CD-set will interest people who enjoy great performances of Vivaldi irrespective of the fact whether one plays period instruments or not.
The Italian-born cellist Antonio Janigro founded and led one of the best chamber orchestras in 1960-70s, I solisti di Zagreb. The Quattri Stagioni (Four Seasons) are well played, but sound a bit outdated and straightforward in comparison with best modern versions: my personal favourite is the first version with Fabio Biondi on Naive/Opus 111. What makes this CD-set a treasure, is a collection of solo concertos which seldom get such a grand performance. All of them are delightful, though I am mentioning only two. In the famous "Night" concerto RV 439 Janigro is joined by one of the greatest flutists of the XXth century, Julius Baker, and bassoonist Karl Hoffmann. Bassoon concerto in the same tonality G minor is played by Rudolf Klepac. It is gorgeous music, inventive and dramatic. The slow movement with an Orfeo-like dialogue of low strings and solo bassoon, which suddenly sounds high and plaintive on this background, is a big hit.
Five stars - for the performance, the programme and the price. Don't miss other Janigro's CDs on Vanguard!"