Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Fritz Kreisler: Concerto for Violin

Gil Shaham (Performer), Antonio Vivaldi (Performer), Fritz Kreisler (Performer), Jem Cohen (Performer), Eric Bartlett (Performer), Ronnie Bauch (Performer), Martha Caplin (Performer), Sarah Clarke (Performer), Marji Danilow (Performer), Maureen Gallagher (Performer), Joanna Jenner (Artist), Ping-How Liang (Artist), Melissa Meell (Artist), Adela Pena (Artist), Todd Phillips (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Gil Shaham, Antonio Vivaldi, Fritz Kreisler, Jem Cohen, Eric Bartlett, et al.
• Audio CD (February 7, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GME
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,256 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shaham/Orpheus breathe new life into hackneyed classic, May 4, 1999

By 

Laszlo Szijarto ([e-mail]) (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Fritz Kreisler: Concerto for Violin (Audio CD)

Unfortunately, the immortal Four Seasons had come to be so overplayed and the melodies so familiar that I could barely stand to hear it. Then I heard this performance, and it was like I had never heard the music before. Orpheus and Gil Shaham infused new life into it. I could not stop listening. I played the CD over and over again--without the least fear of it becoming tedious. I cannot recommend this recording enough--a far cry from the myriad excessively mechanical and lifeless reproductions that nearly killed off this profoundly rich music, inspired more perhaps by the desire for a profit to be derived from the work's popularity than from a true understanding of the spirit behind it. Thank you, Gil Shaham and Orpheus.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful music by any standard, January 17, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Fritz Kreisler: Concerto for Violin (Audio CD)

Until a week ago I would have said that this is the finest version of The Four Seasons ever recorded. Shaham's approach is much like we used to hear from Jacqueline du Pre. Ferocious, full of intelligence and virtuosity, and with great love for the music. The disc is miked very close to his violin and the slightest growl and touch is clearly visable in this most dramatic of recordings. Now how could I not rate it the greatest recording of this music? Easy, I just bought Guiliano Carmignola's version on original instruments (which I usually don't care for) and it may be as perfect as any recording ever made...in every way. I have to say that If you truly love this music you must own both versions. Life is short, just bite the bullet and own them both. You won't regret it!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bright, fresh, and full of life...., July 9, 2000

By 

Penumbra (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Fritz Kreisler: Concerto for Violin (Audio CD)

Shaham's version of "The Four Seasons" is outstanding! This interpretation is bright and full of life. It is quite moving and breathes life into a piece that is quite overplayed.

There's a little CD ROM video available on this disk as well. I've yet to figure out the point of that. It seems to be only a snippet of some larger project, and serves only as a distraction from what is otherwise a masterpiece.