Four Seasons

Vivaldi (Artist), Biondi (Artist), Galante (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Opus 111
• ASIN: B00000G3ZQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,607 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Four Seasons: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Allegro

2. The Four Seasons: Spring: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Largo e pianissimo

3. The Four Seasons: Spring: Spring - Concert In E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 26: Danza pastorale. Allegro

4. The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: Allegro

5. The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: : Adagio

6. The Four Seasons: Summer: Summer - Concert In G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315: Tempo impetuoso d'Estate

7. The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: Allegro

8. The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: Adagio

9. The Four Seasons: Autumn: Autumn - Concert in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293: La Caccia

10. The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Allegro non molto

11. The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Largo

12. The Four Seasons: Winter: Winter - Concert In F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297: Allegro

13. Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Allegro

14. Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Largo

15. Concerto In C Major: Concert In C Major, RV 171: Allegro non molto

16. Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Allegro molto marcato

17. Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Andante

18. Concerto per archi: Concert In B Flat Major: Allegro molto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Path breaking--Still Available, February 5, 2010

By 

Paul Van de Water (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Seasons (Audio CD)

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.

Addendum (Jan. 2012): The box of string concerti has been repackaged as Vivaldi / Biondi, Europa Galante.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the one to choose, April 24, 2000

By 

Kenneth J. Luurs (Oak Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Seasons (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivaldi reborns, January 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Four Seasons (Audio CD)

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....