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

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble (Performer), John Solum (Performer), Igor Kipnis (Performer), Jorg-Michael Schwarz (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble, John Solum, Igor Kipnis, Jorg-Michael Schwarz
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (January 18, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• 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.com Sales Rank: #98,974 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

2. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

3. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

4. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

5. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

6. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

7. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

8. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

9. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

10. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

11. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

12. The Four Seasons (Il quattro stagione), concertos (4) for violin, strings & continuo ('Il cimento' Nos. 1-4) , Op. 8/1 - 4: Concerto

13. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in D major ('Il gardellino'), Op. 10/3, RV 428: 1. Allegro

14. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in D major ('Il gardellino'), Op. 10/3, RV 428: 2. Cantabile

15. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in D major ('Il gardellino'), Op. 10/3, RV 428: 3. Allegro

16. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo in A major, RV 780: 1. Allegro

17. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo in A major, RV 780: 2. Andante

18. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo in A major, RV 780: 3. Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 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 (Long Island), New York) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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.

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)

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!!!