Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni & Oboe Concertos

Ah Vivaldi!! I am always marveled at what expressiveness the Four Seasons achieves in such short works. Undoubtedly, it is my favorite work of all!

How emotional are the Four Seasons. Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra make a beautiful interpretation of the Vivaldi's Violin Concertos Op.8.
With such an unobtrusive orchestration, I could listen to notes I had not realized existed in the work. It is like a wooden interpretation, versus the rubber ones I have heard before, where all the instruments blend into each other.... and I loved these concertos even then!

The Oboe Concertos, in Am RV461 and Dm Op8 No9 RV 454, are not quite so appealing, but of course Vivaldi's baroque is (almost) never bad (avoid Motezuma[sic: Moctezuma] opera, 1733).

I would bring the reader's attention to Ottavio Dantone's version with Stefano Montanari at the violin. It can be bought at Aguilar's collection, number 5. It brings a very peculiar interpretation of tempo, which, after I surpassed the shock, left me with a smile.

Please refer to this amazing document (at buywell.com) written by Graeme Skinner for an explanation of how Vivaldi structured and thought about this work.

Particular highlights (section deprecated, see buywell document ;-) )

Spring

•  

Summer

• Summer's first movement the contrast of the period instruments when going into full summer shower mode
• What clear attacks on Summer's 3rd movement! 

Autumn

• 
  

Winter

• Winter's second movement sounds beautifully as a fine clockwork ticking

Ton Koopman, conductor, harpsichord & organ
Marcel Ponseele, oboe
Andrew Manze, violin
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Elatus

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Concerto per violino	E	op8#1 (RV 269)	Andrew Manze, violin	La Primavera, spring
Concerto per violino	Gm	op8#2 (RV 315)	Andrew Manze, violin	L'Estate, summer
Concerto per violino	F	op8#3 (RV 293)	Andrew Manze, violin	L'Autunno, autumn
Concerto per violino	Fm	op8#4 (RV 297)	Andrew Manze, violin	L'Inverno, winter
Concerto per oboe	Am	RV 461	Marcel Ponseele, oboe
Concerto per oboe	Dm	op8#9 (RV 454)	Marcel Ponseele, oboe