Vivaldi - Four Seasons [Content/Copy-Protected CD]

With the classical catalog listing well over 100 versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, an obvious question is "why do we need yet another recording of this overplayed and trivialized masterpiece?" While one part of me says we obviously don't, another part of me is glad that Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante produced this fine period recording - which breathes some new life into Vivaldi's most-famous concertos and allows us perhaps to hear something new and fresh. In fact, this disc may be most appreciated and enjoyed by the classical lover who has grown up with the Seasons and perhaps has ceased to be captivated by its suggestive powers.

Fabio Biondi shows in this marvelous recording why he is considered one of the top period violinists (along with Andrew Manze, Rachel Podger and Elizabeth Wallfisch). Biondi rightfully takes some 'license' inherent in such Italian Baroque music to put his stamp of Italian panache that sets it apart from most other readings. His creative tweaks, well-chosen rubato, and aria-like lyricism can be considered really within the spirit of the Baroque virtuoistic style where the soloist was expected to add his/her special touches. Indeed embellishments such as the highly percussive textures the Galante strings brings in certain movements indeed add a fresh drama and ... well, fun ... to Vivaldi's unfortunately over-exposed masterpiece. Such sensuous expressivity, exhuberant spontaneity and joyous extrovertness is all inherent in the Italian culture - then and now - and who better to bring such spirited virtuosity than an Italian solists and Italian ensemble.

Yet, Biondi's style can sometimes favor style over substance too much, sacrificing clarity and precision in some of the 32nd-note passages. I was surprized in some of these passage (such as 20 seconds into the dramatic rising scales of the closing presto of Summer). Also, sometimes his technique sounds a bit "on the edge," but that's fine to me as it is done with such Italian panache. In a way certain parts of this music are supposed to be on the edge.

Vivaldi's Op. 8 was one of his "program music" experiments that brought him great success, and such music is designed to be pictoral, suggestive and above all expressive - all of which Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante rise to do with vivacious style yet retaining fine musical taste (no hyper-speed version here). Biondi's dynamic approach is perfect for Vivaldi and such theatrical music as this and comes off quite remarkable and enjoyable. With his period violin he achieves a highly-expressive, even anguished vocal quality as seen in Autumn finale, the Summer slow movement or the Winter allegro. But no movement is more mesmerizing than his aria-like solo in the Winter Largo - depicting the contented feeling of "one musing by the warm fire as the rain and snow fall outside."

Vivaldi's Four Seasons is filled with many "sound pictures" that in later publications, Vivaldi described in what may be some of the most early "program notes" - from the barking of the hunt dog to the north wind blowing to the swallow chirping in summer - and the Europa Galante captures them most artistically and emotionally. One surprizingly pleasant moment in the beautiful Autumn middle movement and the opening of the Winter movement is a most beautifully sounding harpsichord that greatly adds to the wonder and anticipation inherent in these pieces. And to round out the disc, the added concertos here are a wonderful sampling of some of the finest and most historic concertos Vivaldi composed (out of hundreds!) and are done by Europa Galante with the same panache and spontaneous style as their 'Four Seasons' concertos. The complete concertos of these "samplings" are also highly rated and feature Biondi at his most expressive.

Penguin, Gramophone and Third Ear Guides all like and recommend Biondi's/Galante's several CD's of Vivaldi's concertos including this one for their spontaneous and imaginative take. This CD is unique and wonderful addition to the vast listings of the Four Seasons that should appeal to the classical fan overly familiar with this music. But, I think for those newer to this music, some of the more "classic" recordings are a better place to start - such as the oh-so smooth and precise reading by Simon Standage and the English Concert. But, Biondi's tastefully expressive reading here might just allow your imagination to run more vividly as Vivaldi seemed to expect in such thematic music as this. 4.5 stars. (another quite different recording worth exploring is Joshua Bell's latestfor his pristine violin playing and gorgeous sound of a Strad.)

Everyone has already heard too much of "The Four Seasons," which comprise the first four of the set of 12 concerti presented here. At the same time, its ubiquity, coupled with its quality, makes it a necessary part of any classical starter collection. To cut to the chase: if you're going to have a classical collection, and if Vivaldi is to be part of it, make this the version you choose.

I am not an expert listener. I know little about music and can barely tell a fugue from a toccata. So I don't know what to make about complaints regarding the supposed liberties that Fabio Biondi takes with Vivaldi's written music, with the time signatures or with improvisations where they aren't called for. Nor can I comment regarding historically accurate performance practice vs. other ways of playing this music. What I do know is that even I can discern a difference - a vast, immeasurable gulf - between this music as it is played here by Biondi and his ensemble, Europa Galante, and this music as I've heard it played by anyone else. These concertos are played crisply, with an exciting sense of rhythm that makes the music seem to bounce; to take one example for comparison, Ozawa's Four Seasons on Telarc seems limp, rhythmically soft, and frankly boring. One is elevator music; the other, music to listen to.

Unless you're the sort of highly discriminating, perhaps anal-retentive connoisseur of Baroque music who can afford to nitpick Biondi and Europa Galante for their stylistic transgressions, this is the Vivaldi you need to hear. Even an ignoramus like me can tell the difference.

The first time I heard Fabio Biondi perform "The Four Seasons" on the radio, I did not recognize that this was the famous piece by Vivaldi - the interpretation was so original and the playing so incisive, that I thought that some more modern work was being performed (this was especially true of "Winter"). It seems that Biondi had thought through every note and nuance, so the end result is startingly original. I highly recommend this recording, even if you have other versions of "The Four Seasons".