Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Flute Concerto in D "Il Gardellino"; Harpsichord Concerto in A major

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble (Performer), Igor Kipnis (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble, Igor Kipnis
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (January 18, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B000003GDQ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,684 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

2. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Largo

3. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro - Danza Pastorale

4. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro Non Molto - Allegro

5. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Adagio - Presto

6. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Presto

7. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro - Larghetto - Allegro Molto

8. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Adagio Molto

9. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro. La Caccia

10. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro Non Molto

11. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Largo

12. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

13. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

14. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Cantabile

15. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

16. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

17. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Andante

18. Op. 8, No. 1 - 4 For Violin, Strings, and Continuo: Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEASONS OF THE HEART, February 23, 2001

By 

Melvyn M. Sobel "Melvyn M. Sobel" (Freeport, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Flute Concerto in D "Il Gardellino"; Harpsichord Concerto in A major (Audio CD)

This is as intimate a recording of The Four Seasons as you will ever likely come across, due entirely to the complete immersion of the phenomenal Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble into the spirit and essence of Vivaldi, under the directorship of ageless maestro, Igor Kipnis.

With each of the eight Connecticut Ensemble members taking his or her part--- three violins, viola, cello, bass, theorbo/archlute/guitar, and harpsichord--- Vivaldi's concerti Op. 8, No.'s 1-4 become chamber-like, wistful, utterly personal. And contrary to what we might presume, even with its bare bones showing, this Four Seasons becomes yet more profound. Textures hidden beneath typical orchestral forces, embellishments subdued or repressed entirely, or melodic lines no longer articulated (or too well integrated to hear), have a sudden clarity, variety and emotional impact that is startling and completely convincing--- as well as being thoroughly thrilling.

The keen scholarship of Kipnis is telling at every turn, as in the use of Richard Stone's theorbo, archlute or baroque guitar interspersed throughout; or Eli Potash's self-built and wonderfully rich and baroquely gruff bass, tuned in fifths; or Kipnis' own harpsichord contribution, a marvel in itself, and particularly rewarding (as in the Adagio of "Autumn")--- yes! we do actually get to HEAR the harpsichord! (At long last.)

Lead violinist Jorg-Michael Schwarz is to be commended for his beautiful tone, grace and musical emapthy; but, then, it would be a disservice not to commend every member of the Connecticut Ensemble for fabulously rich and inspiring craftsmanship, and for allowing us the treasures manifest in their playing.

Also on the CD is the Flute Concerto in D, Op. 10, No. 3 ("The Goldfinch"), RV 428, here played rapturously by John Slocum on a mid-18th century one-keyed boxwood flute. Superb!

To round things out, we have a concerto (listed as RV 546), probably for violin and cello, reconstructed brilliantly, and convincingly, by Kipnis as a three movement Harpsichord Concerto (RV 78) in A.

Absolutely first-rate sound: warm, comfortable, inviting, detail-rich. Excellent liner notes, too, by Kipnis.

[Running time: 62:15]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crystal Clarity, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Flute Concerto in D "Il Gardellino"; Harpsichord Concerto in A major (Audio CD)

Like all of Chesky's recordings I've listened to, this one is awesome. This is the best recording of Vivaldi I've heard. The range is phenomenal. Bass is rich and full, highs are crisp, and the resolution is awesome.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an Audiophile CD, May 30, 2009

By 

Sergio Villa Ramos (Cacalomacan, Mexico, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Flute Concerto in D "Il Gardellino"; Harpsichord Concerto in A major (Audio CD)

if you want to buy this CD from the Chesky Web Page, DON'T it will never arrive to you, but they will charge for it. in Amazon, I get it, and It's an amazing recording, if you have Tube's (Bulbos) it will sound Superb!!!