Vivaldi – The Four Seasons & Violin Concertos RV212a and RV581 (Audio CD, 1991)

Product Information

• UPC: 5099704766225
• Catalog Number: SBK 47 662
• Format: Audio CD, Compilation, Remastered
• Year of Release: 1991
• Country of Manufacture: Austria
• Label: Sony Classical
• Series: Essential Classics
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Baroque
• Performers: John Holloway, Piero Toso (violin), Jean-Claude Malgoire, Claudio Scimone (conductors), I Solisti Veneti, La Grande Écurie Et La Chambre Du Roy (orchestras)

Overview

This 1991 remastered Essential Classics release from Sony Classical presents a masterful interpretation of Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic The Four Seasons alongside two other distinguished violin concertos (RV212a and RV581). Featuring soloists John Holloway and Piero Toso with two renowned orchestras and conductors Jean-Claude Malgoire and Claudio Scimone, this compilation showcases the vibrant energy and intricate craftsmanship of Baroque music.

The Four Seasons vividly captures the changing moods and atmospheres of the seasons with evocative musical storytelling. This release includes detailed movements from all four concertos—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—each featuring descriptive subtitles in Italian, English, German, and French, illuminating Vivaldi’s programmatic intentions. Complementing these are two additional concertos celebrating religious festivals, enriching the listening experience with their solemnity and grandeur.

Product Features

• Format: Audio CD, Remastered Compilation
• Total Length: 69:07 minutes
• Condition: Brand New
• Instrumentation: Violin concertos with string orchestra and basso continuo
• Languages: Movement titles and liner notes in multiple languages (English, French, German, Italian)
• Special Features: Programmatic subtitles describing musical scenes and moods; remastered sound quality
• Recorded at: Notre-Dame du Liban, Kirchengemeindehaus Winterthur
• Baroque Orchestras: I Solisti Veneti and La Grande Écurie Et La Chambre Du Roy

Interesting Facts

• Multiple Conductors & Orchestras: Tracks 1-12 conducted by Jean-Claude Malgoire with La Grande Écurie Et La Chambre Du Roy, tracks 13-18 by Claudio Scimone with I Solisti Veneti, showcasing distinct interpretive styles.
• Detailed Programmatic Subtitles: Each movement of The Four Seasons includes poetic descriptions in four languages, enriching the listener’s understanding of Vivaldi’s musical imagery.
• Renowned Soloists: John Holloway and Piero Toso, celebrated violinists known for their expressive and stylistic Baroque performances.
• Remastered Excellence: The 1991 release was digitally remastered by Debra Parkinson and Mike Cavaluzzo to enhance sound clarity while preserving the authentic Baroque texture.
• Historic Venues: Recorded in acoustically rich locations adding warmth and resonance to the performances.

Track Listing Highlights

Le Quattro Stagioni – The Four Seasons

Spring (Concerto for Violin, String Orchestra and Basso Continuo in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269)

1. I. Allegro – 3:40  a. Giunt' È La Primavera = Spring's Awakening = Frühlingserwachen = L'Éveil Du Printemps  b. Canto Degl'uccelli = Song Of The Birds = Gesang Der Vögel = Le Chant Des Oiseaux  c. Scorrono I Fonti = The Springs Gush Out = Die Quellen Sprudeln = Le Murmure Des Fontaines  d. Tuoni = Thunder = Donner = La Tonnerre  e. Canto D'Uccelli = Song Of The Birds = Gesang Der Vögel = Le Chant Des Oiseaux

2. II. Largo – 2:44  a. Il Capraro Che Dorme • Mormorio Di Fronde E Piante • Il Cane Che Grida = The Sleeping Goatherd • Rustling Of Foliage And Plants • The Dog Barks = Der Schalfende Ziegenhirt • Rascheln Des Laubes Und Der Pflanzen • Der Hund Bellt = Le Chevrier Endormi • Le Bruissement Des Feuilles Et Des Plantes • Le Chien Qui Aboie

3. III. Allegro – 4:23  a. Danza Pastorale = Country Dance = Ländlicher Tanz = Danse Pastorale

Summer (Concerto for Violin, String Orchestra and Basso Continuo in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315) 4. I. Allegro Non Molto - Allegro – 5:46  a. Languidezza Per Il Caldo = Languor Caused By The Heat = Mattigkeit Wegen Der Hitze = Lassitude Causée Par La Chaleur  b. Il Cucco = The Cuckoo = Der Kuckuck = Le Coucou  c. La Tortorella = The Turtle-Dove = Die Turteltaube = La Tourterelle  d. Il Gardellino = The Goldfinch = Der Stieglitz = Le Chardonneret  e. Zeffiretti Dolci = Gentle Zephyrs = Sanfte Zephire = Doux Zéphyrs  f. Venti Diversi = Various Winds = Verschiedene Winde = Vents Divers  g. Vento Borea = The North Wind = Der Nordwind = Le Vent Du Nord  h. Il Pianto Del Villanello = Young Countryman's Lament = Die Klage Des Jungen Bauern = La Plainte Du Jeune Paysan

1. II. Adagio – 1:53  a. Mosche E Mosconi = Flies And Bluebottles = Fliegen Und Brummer = Mouches Et Grosses Mouches Bleues

2. III. Presto – 2:53  a. Tempo Impetuoso D'Estate = Summer Storm = Stürmisches Wetter = Temps D'Orage

Autumn (Concerto for Violin, String Orchestra and Basso Continuo in E Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293) 7. I. Allegro – 5:29  a. Ballo E Canto De' Villanelli = Dance And Song Of The Country Folk = Tanz Und Gesang Der Landleute = Danse Et Chanson Des Paysans  b. L'Ubriaco = The Toper = Der Betrunkene = L'Ivrogne  c. L'Ubriaco Che Dorme = The Sleeping Drunkard = Der Schlafende Zecher = L'Ivrogne Endormi

1. II. Adagio Molto – 2:10  a. Dormienti Ubriachi = The Sleeping Drunkards = Die Schlafenden Zecher = Les Ivrognes Endormis

2. III. Allegro – 3:38  a. La Caccia = The Hunt = Die Jagd = La Chasse  b. La Fiera Che Fugge = The Fleeing Beast = Das Fliehende Tier = L'Animal En Fuite  c. Schioppi E Cani = Guns And Hounds = Flinten Und Hunde = Fusils Et Chiens De Chasse  d. La Fiera Fuggendo Muore = The Fleeing Beast Is Slain = Das Fliehende Tier Verendet = L'Animal S'Enfuyant Meurt

Winter (Concerto for Violin, String Orchestra and Basso Continuo in F Major, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297) 10. I. Allegro Non molto – 3:37  a. Agghiacciato Tremar Tra Nevi Algenti = Frozen Shivering In The Icy Snow = Erstarrendes Schauern Im Eisigen Schnee = Tremblement Gelé Dans La Neige Glaciale  b. Orrido Vento = Dreadful Storm = Entsetzlicher Sturm = Terrible Tempête  c. Correre E Battere Li Piedi Per Il Freddo = Running And Footstamping Because Of The Cold = Laufen Und Trampeln Mit Den Füßen Vor Kälte = Courir Et Frapper Des Pieds De Froid  d. Venti = Winds = Winde = Des Vents  e. Battere I Denti = Chattering Of Teeth = Zähneklappern = Claquements Des Dents

1. II. Largo – 1:49  a. La Pioggia = Rain = Regen = La Pluie

2. III. Allegro – 3:04  a. Camminar Sopra Il Ghiaccio = Crossing The Ice = Gehen Auf Dem Eise = Marche Sur La Glace  b. Camminar Piano E Con Timore = Moving Carefully And Anxiously = Vorsichtiges Und Ängstliches Gehen = Démarche Prudente Et Pleine D'Appréhension  c. Cader A Terra = Falling To The Ground = Hinfallen = Chute À Terre  d. Correr Forte = Striding Boldly On = Forsches Voranschreiten = Course Effrénée  e. Il Vento Siroco = The Sirocco = Der Schirokko = Le Sirocco  f. Il Vento Borea E Tutti Li Venti = The North Wind And All Other Winds = Der Nordwind Und Alle Anderen Winde = Le Vent Du Nord Et Tous Les Autres Vents

Additional Violin Concertos

Concerto For Violin, String Orchestra And Basso Continuo In D Major, RV 212a 13. I. Allegro – 4:53 14. II. Largo – 3:15 15. III. Allegro – 5:12

Concerto For Violin, String Orchestra And Basso Continuo In C Major, RV 581 16. I. Adagio E Staccato - Allegro Ma Poco Poco – 5:25 17. II. Largo – 3:42 18. III. Allegro – 4:25

Publishers

Released by Sony Classical, 1991. All rights reserved.

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• English: #Vivaldi #TheFourSeasons #BaroqueMusic #JohnHolloway #PieroToso #JeanClaudeMalgorie #ClaudioScimone #ISolistiVeneti #LaGrandeEcurie #SonyClassical #EssentialClassics