Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor, Performer), New York Philharmonic (Performer, Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (March 31, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000062E5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,564 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Recorder
  • #18 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Oboe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ownage, July 25, 2003

By 

"creepingdeath021" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

One of the reviews I read mentioned that the conductor here used too much of a dynamic range, had too much vigor, etc. etc.

I ask - how much does this person know about this piece (the Four Seasons)?

This CD is the best Vivaldi CD I've heard yet, and I've heard a good many. Most of them rush through the more peaceful parts without showing a hint of feeling, or drag through more vigorous parts like the musicians and conductor are bored. But this CD lets you enjoy each movement of each concerto and actually feel what's being portrayed in the music.

I believe some of the parts that were referred to as bombast, etc., were from Summer. Summer, as all the concertos in the Four Seasons, has passages that depict storms. The storms in Concerto 3, Movement 3 specifically, however, are extremely violent. It's even written in the sheet music, which I own, that the parts are supposed to be violent! And if you're following along with what the music is portraying, then it'll give you chills.

I recommend fans of Vivaldi's Four Seasons look up the poems that were recited before each concerto. The poems explain what is being portrayed in the music. Ie, in Spring, the section after the main theme, with many seemingly random trills and 16th note runs, represents birds singing and chirping. The fast section after it represents the arrival of a spring thunderstorm, and thunder and lightning. Later in the movement, the birds return and then the music drifts away to flowing fountains of fresh water.

The Four Seasons really is a beautiful and brilliant piece of work. I think it goes without saying that it's highly recommended.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It captured my heart!, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

This is definitely the best version of the four seasons I've ever experienced. Bernstein takes full advantage of power of the orchestra and brings each season alive. I couldn't stop listening to "Summer" over and over again. There were also a few other titles that I wasn't really familiar with that made me a true fan of Vivaldi.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ahead of its time, December 22, 2011

By 

Robert L. Edwards (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Audio CD)

Bernstein was ahead of his time - he anticipated and preceded the HIP revolution by several years.

Contrary to what some other reviewers have said, this is not the full NY Philharmonic. It IS a reduced ensemble. The extraordinary concertmaster at that time, John Corigliano, later told the story of how he had to completely change his technique in order to play this music the way Bernstein indicated it should be. Corigliano was trained in the romantic style of bowing and using "short" bow technique, and coming off the string constantly, was simply not done at that time.

This is not a sterile performance - it is full of life. To this day, there is not a more vibrant recording of if the "diverse" instrument concerto. Its a knockout. This recording was a revolution at the time, and it still holds up today. Not "pure" - and that is in no way a negative - but a fully viable, engaged performance. Highly recommended.