Customer Reviews

Vivaldi - The Four Seasons / Von Karajan, Mutter, Berlin Philharmonic

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With so many versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and after listening them so many times, I asked myself if it's something I still don't know or heard. This version gave me the answer. Compared with this version, the others seem weak, superflous, ambiance music to entertain bored monarchs. With Karajan and Ann-Sophie Mutter, Vivaldi regains power, character and now is music to be listened with attention to all the interesting details that make this version the best one I ever heard. Listen (and see) the violas in Summer's 3rd, the powerful bass in Autum 3rd while Karajan, sitting by an extra cembalo, improvises some chords. A must-have for all music lovers.

This is not a disc for lovers of "authentic" music! Karajan has assembled what seems like the entire string section of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for this lush romantic version of the Four Seasons. Soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter is in tune with HvK's approach,she is vital even a touch fierce in the more excitable passages but as ever her pure tone,brilliant technique and wilful temperament combine to ensure there is always something interesting occasionally something transcendent at the core of her interpretation. Now that scaled down authentic baroque has become the norm I find it a guilt-free pleasure to look back at this sort of "incorrect" performance and simply enjoy it as an example of fine music making. Picture quality is OK,sound comes in two flavours 2 channel stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 - I found the 5.1 surround mix the most impressive in conjuring up a realistic concert acoustic.There are no extras to speak of just a written puff piece about Saint Herbert.

This performance was taped 17 years ago so the video quality isn't that sharp by today's standards, but the audio is excellent. The new building - The Chamber Music Auditorium of the Berlin Philharmonic - is beautiful and perfect for such a performance. Mutter's playing is up to her usual lofty standards, and of course maestro Herbert Von Karajan (he and Mutter are my reasons for granting the five stars) is larger than life, although he was obviously beginning to weaken at this point and sadly needed assistance in standing. (He passed less than two years after this taping.) Also provided on the DVD are backgrounds on Von Karajan and the new auditorium. Overall an excellent presentation of Vivaldi's masterpiece.

"The Four Seasons" is probably one of the most famous and widely played symphony in the world. This version is beautifully shot and the sound quality is superb. Mr. Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic are in excellent form. It's always a treat watching Mr. Karajan conduct and play the harpischord. Reminding us how great composers like Beethoven did both in their days. Anne-Sophie Mutter's playing is both heavenly and flawless...and I'm a cellist! This performance is like a wonderful bottle of Cabernet - very solid. Just perfect for a relaxing evening at home. It's great to have this version on dvd as testament to the growth and talent of Ms. Mutter. Mutter's 1999 collaboration of "The Four Seasons" with the Trondheim Soloists is more energetic & uptempo. Mutter plays with a little more abandon. Unfortunately, the 1999 rendition is cd only and not available on dvd yet.

The 5.1 mix is very lush and smooth. If you enjoy entertaining with background music or just like to "kick it up a notch", you'll really enjoy this disc. For some reason, a lot of the
von Karajan DVD's are not in 5.1, but go ahead and buy this one, you will NOT be disapointed

So much been written about it so not really much to add about this edition.
It's been described as "overly romantic", "not true to the original setting" etc.
But any music lover with their ears fitted to their heads will enjoy this masterpiece!

I personally have listend to around 20 different versions of Vivaldis Four Seasons, but this is the one I always come back to.
The first time I ever heard this version with the full orchestral setting I was truly blown away by the sheer amount of sound that hit me.
Not in a bad way, no matter if you play it in stereo mode or the 5.1 setup every tiny detail is there and hearing Anne-Sophie Mutter play
her violin the way she does reminds me that never before or after have I heard any violinist play with so much emotion and absolute
control the she does on this version.
And no version before gives the feeling of change between seasons like this one, autum storms DOES sound better with lots of violins.

When I compare for example the recording from 2004 with Janine Jansen, JJ and her version give me a feeling of listening to a person that
(a) doesn't know her instrument so well, (b) still taking violin lessons and just starting to learn this piece.
No shadow over Janine since she's a godly good violinist herself that I like a lot, but that and many other great violinists that plays this
piece more "correct" in the classic meaning and less romantic always feels pretty numb and lacking energy and punch after hearing what Karajan brings
to the table is his and Mutters version.

About the sound, I think it's very good for "only" being on a quite old DVD, ofc a MasterAudio flac file or a SACD from Linnrecordings could squeeze out some
additional details but thats not the point, this is more then most peoples stereos could resolve and handle properly.
So audio: 9.5/10 video: well who cares really? It's ok but better to turn off the projector or screen and enjoy the music.

So to sum it up, if you don't have this DVD just buy it!
It's a treasure for a silly low price and it will probably be the best version you will ever find unless your a narrowminded classic taste police/snob.

Very enjoyable if you got a system to play it resonably loud with speakers to match so to speak.

Enjoy a very fine recording.

The Dvd's absolutely amazing. I love every single second of this composition. Mutter's violin solo are absolutely breathtaking.

Karajan and Mutter give a very impressive performance of the 4 seasons, it is both pleasurable and entertaining, a highly recommended concert and Mutter is both precise and highly energetic!

I have to disagree with the review who said that too much attention is focused or von Karajan himself. This would bother me quite a bit if it were true, but I don't think it is. Instead, everything about this production strikes me as finely balanced. It shouldn't be forgotten that in this performance, von Karajan is playing the harpsichord, so there is really some logic in focusing on him to some degree.

Audio Merits:7/10; Video Merits:8/10; Musical Merits:9/10; Artistic Performance:10/10; DVD Extras:7/10; Recording Total Quality:8/10. Professor's Comment: BPO is not appropriate for Baroque!