The Four Seasons: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Allegro
The Four Seasons: Spring: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Largo e pianissimo
The Four Seasons: Spring: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Danza pastorale. Allegro
The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: Allegro
The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: : Adagio
The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: Tempo impetuoso d'Estate
The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: Allegro
The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: Adagio
The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: La Caccia
The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Allegro non molto
The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Largo
The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Allegro
Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Allegro
Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Largo
Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Allegro non molto
Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Allegro molto marcato
Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Andante
Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Allegro molto
This recording of The Four Seasons sold something like 50 billion copies in France. Now, I know that's not necessarily a recommendation. After all, this is the country that thinks Jerry Lewis is America's greatest film sta... more »r. But in this case, they have a point, because here is a sensational recording of the fabulous Four. The secret of making a great new recording of music that you've heard until it drives you crazy lies in the performers' ability to make the music sound fresh. That's exactly what Biondi and his forces do. To listen to this record is to realize that classical music is what it says it is--great art that constantly reveals something new when subjected to vibrant and original interpretation. One more for the CD shelf! --David Hurwitz« less
This recording of The Four Seasons sold something like 50 billion copies in France. Now, I know that's not necessarily a recommendation. After all, this is the country that thinks Jerry Lewis is America's greatest film star. But in this case, they have a point, because here is a sensational recording of the fabulous Four. The secret of making a great new recording of music that you've heard until it drives you crazy lies in the performers' ability to make the music sound fresh. That's exactly what Biondi and his forces do. To listen to this record is to realize that classical music is what it says it is--great art that constantly reveals something new when subjected to vibrant and original interpretation. One more for the CD shelf! --David Hurwitz
CD Reviews
Vivaldi reborns
Kenneth J. Luurs | 01/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Fabio Biond's way of playing show us how the so called ancient-music-performed-by-ancient-intruments should be executed. His "Four Seasons", the world best one, it's a model of power and kind. He plays his instrument sometimes like a sweet bird in the trees, sometimes like a noisy distorced guitar. We can feel the wetness of the rain. Fabio Biondi, and the powerfull Europa Galante, made "The Four Seasons" an unique experience. Listen up with the eyes closed...."
Path breaking--Still Available
Paul Van de Water | Virginia, USA | 02/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the earlier of Biondi's recordings of the Four Seasons--set down for Opus 111 in 1991, but it in no way pales in comparison to Biondi's later traversal on Virgin. It was considered path breaking at the time of its release, and it still makes Vivaldi's warhorse sound remarkably fresh. Two less familiar concertos offer a wonderful bonus: RV171 for violin and RV163 for strings (called "Conca," or conch, after a kind of Bohemian trumpet).
Although this disc is no longer available by itself, it can be obtained as part of two four-CD sets on Naive at the price of a single CD. One package combines it with three discs of string concerti Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; String Concertos (Box Set). The other includes discs of concerti for winds, strings, and bassoon and oboe Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni; Concerti [Box Set]. All the additional discs are taken from Naive's Vivaldi edition. Either way, this recording of the Four Seasons is a thoroughly delightful bargain."
The one to choose
Kenneth J. Luurs | Oak Park, IL USA | 04/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have a large music collection (over 10,000 recordings) and have heard most of the "name" versions of this work. While I must admit, I have outgrown some of my enthusiasm for the 4-seasons due to the number of times it is played, this performance demands hearing. It is breathtaking. Indeed, when it was first released, I ranked it as my favorite album of the year. At the price, it can't be beat."
Nothing prepared me for this!
Stephen P Bayer | Austin, TX | 02/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"H.C.Robbins Landon has written that the Four Seasons is now the most often heard piece of music in the world. And why not? It's pleasant enough stuff, but not exactly heavyweight.Fabio Biondi shoots that theory to pieces. He and his band have given us a Seasons so passionate and so powerful, that it will be impossible ever again to think of Vivaldi as a lightweight. This is, as they say, the real deal."
Rich creamy goodness
Stephen P Bayer | 11/26/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"if youre favorite movement is the excellent summer 3 (presto) then you may be disappointed. for the most part biondi goes for all out speed at the price of depth, and some of the more interesting parts of the movement are drowned out by the wailing harpsicord. its still a very interesting interpretation (i just like others better eg mutter or accardo). the movement is only really only disappointing in comparison to the rest of the disc, though. the 3 summers are in general mostly highly inventive and expressive, often technically astounding. spring 2 is played *unbelievably* well. very emotive and as creamy as it can possibly be. it is one of the best played movements in all the classical i know. the autumn movements have always struck me as a bit haughty. but biondi makes them more than tolerable, and now i must reconsider my whole take on them. the first movement of winter is genius. the set of winter movements together makes more brilliant interpretive twists and turns than i can count. if it wasnt for the not-that-great presto movement, id put my money on this disc as the best 4 seasons nomologically possible. it's probably the best disc out now, though i havent heard annie-sophie mutter's seasons (outside the presto, that is)."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1