Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"

schwarcw
schwarcw Posts: 7,341
edited August 2007 in Music & Movies
I'd like some recommendations of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", SACD is preferred but I am open to suggestions. I'd like your impressions of why you like your recommendation. The orchestra, conductor, recording quality, etc. Thanks!
Carl

Post edited by schwarcw on

Comments

  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited August 2007
    Carl, this is one of my favorite classical recordings of all time.
    I will check in my collection for some recommendations.
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited August 2007
    Carl, although there're about a half-dozen Four Seasons on SACD, none are of the of the most highly-regarded(and I agree)performances and my suggestion would be to choose one or more of the CDs that have excellent sound.

    You didn't indicate whether you preferred period or modern instrument performances and I'll suggest one of each. I'm very impressed by the Biondi CD with a vigorous performance on period instruments at generally faster than average tempos, and would have to call it my favorite. Notably delightful in the early going is the very sharp characterization given to the "barking dog" in the second movement of "Spring". Really excellent sound which shouldn't be found wanting even by SACD enthusiasts, and ambience expands nicely to the surrounds when DPLII is applied.

    A modern instrument performance with somewhat smoother timbre and somewhat larger forces is the Kremer with Abbado . Relatively quick tempos for a modern instrument performance. Very good sound, slightly more distant than Biondi, but still quite clear.

    The Tower prices are good, and if you have something else to bring the order over $20, shipping is free.
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited August 2007
    Hi John and thanks for the recommendations. I really don't have a preference towards period vs modern instrument performances. But, if pushed I would lean towards the modern instruments.

    I did pick up a copy of the Telarc production of Seiji Ozawa-Boston Symphony Orchestra, with Joseph Silverstein on violin. I like the quality of the Telarc productions in general so I picked up this recording sight "unheard". I think it is very good,

    I'd be interested in your perspective if you've heard this production.

    I'd also like to hear from my pal Ed. I'll be up in Westchester next week and I might consider coming down to the Bronx to haunt your house.
    Carl

  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2007
    I have an old Musical Heritage Society recording on LPs with Nevelle Mariner as the conductor St. Martin's of the Fields. It's a great performance, however as with a lot of MHS recordings the vinyl is a bit on the let's say crappy side. I just listen past the noise. I would like to check out the CDs listed above.
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited August 2007
    Joe,

    I was at a church flea market last week and picked up a four album (vinyl) set of Chopin "The Poetry of the Piano", Ivan Moravec pianist. It has all the Ballades, Preludes (Opus 28) and Nocturnes. It was released by the Classics Record Library (A Connoisseur Society Recording) copyright 1966. It's brand new!!!!! It set me back 100 pennies. I'm saving it to bring to your house.
    Carl

  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2007
    Right on!!! I'll have a tube and a solid state preamp in the rig to give it the royal treatment.

    I have some Chopin but I don't remember what.
  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2007
    Carl,

    I have a "Made in Spain" Deutsche Grammophon collection with Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" (Herbert von Karajan-Berlin Philarmonic) and "Concerti con molti istromenti" (The English Concert-Trevor Pinnock). It's a booklet with two CD's. Booklet contains Vivaldi's bio and great graphics of paintings and such from that time. Everything is in Spanish though.....

    I can send it to you for you to look at it/listen for a few weeks if you want.
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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited August 2007
    Carl, here's a link for you: http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/vivaldi.html
    Enjoy.
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited August 2007
    Carl, the Silverstein-Boston Symphony performance(on Cd; presumably the remastering for SACD improved the sound at least slightly)was one of several Four Seasons that I've borrowed from libraries in the past, and I took a quick listen to some online sample tracks now to refresh my memory. Certainly well played and recorded, but it didn't strike me as being as vigorous and exciting as some others I'd heard and I didn't buy it. Since you have it, it certainly should be enough for at least now to represent a modern instrument performance, but I'll again strongly suggest the Biondi disc for a bit different approach.

    I enjoyed reading the discussion that ES linked, and the reference there to a certain similarity between some of Vivaldi's concertos reminded me of the comment of a wag who suggested that Vivaldi didn't write 500 concertos but wrote one 500 times!
  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited August 2007
    ESAVINON wrote: »
    Carl, this is one of my favorite classical recordings of all time.
    I will check in my collection for some recommendations.

    I agree with you I LOVE the violins, its like classical metal.

    I've heard this copy

    http://www.delosmus.com/item/sa32/sa3280.html

    It was amazing
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited August 2007
    Wow! This thread became lively yesterday. There's some real cool info there. Thanks to all for your info and your generous offer Ricardo.

    I found Ed's link to be facinating. The CD booklet I have also mentioned that Vivaldi generally travelled with two sisters from that girl's school where he was an instructor. At least one of those sisters was his mistress. The thoughts that both of them were a threesome, well . . . . .:D :p

    John, you gave me an idea. I am going to go to the local library and check out what's available. They surprise me sometimes and I didn't think of looking for Vivaldi.

    Carl
    Carl

  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited August 2007
    Sure Carl, they have a nice selection. I'd especially suggest that you pick up this 2-disc set which includes the performance I recommended.
  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited August 2007
    Thanks for looking that up for me John!!!!!!!:D

    I can actually order it at my local library and it should be available for pick up in less than a week. There's a good selection libraries in our metro area that share resources. I'm looking forward to it!

    Carl
    Carl