Vivaldi: The Four Seasons and Three Concertos for Violin and Orchestra

The revival of Vivaldi’s music in the 20th century was spearheaded by the phenomenal popularity of The Four Seasons. First recorded in 1947, there’s now a dizzying array of performances to choose from. Giuliano Carmignola and the Venice Baroque Orchestra are particularly theatrical, taking their lead from the colourful imagery of the seasonal sonnets which Vivaldi “paints” so vividly in the music. In the slow movement of Winter the lower strings pluck convincingly like rain, while over them Carmignola’s violin snuggles up and sings by the fire. These performances, however, never rest for a moment: the ever-changing speeds, moods and colours are irresistibly illustrative, and often delightfully witty (gritty strings depict an uncontrollable outbreak of chattering teeth in the final movement). Three less well-known concertos are made to feel like natural bedfellows.