Vivaldi fans lend me your ears for a moment...

Tireguy,

Interesting tread...umm...thread! I'll try not to get all steel-belted on you and ply you with my bias--but you can always ignore what I say and listen to the radial...umm...radio if you prefer.

Nevertheless, Doc-stereo certainly ID'd the selection in question correctly, but getting anyone around here to agree on their favorite Four Seasons (Quattro Stagioni) will probably be about as easy as getting them to agree on their favorite speaker!

Two that I really like are Simon Standage/Trevor Pinnock on Archiv [400 045-2] and Gil Shaham with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on DGG [439 933-2]. The DGG also comes with a bonus CD-ROM that you might find interesting.

While probably not the best place to start, if you're interested in something a little different (some might call it heretical) check out Marion Verbruggen and the Flanders Recorder Quartet on Harmonia Mundi [HMU 907153]. A great performance just brimming with life--and great sonics too!

And if you want to check out some more Vivaldi, I just got a disc on Dorian [DOR-93252] by Musica Pacifica performing La Notte (concerti for diverse instruments). Having just seen them perform, I picked-up this CD in the lobby, and am totally delighted with the performance and the recording. Great stuff!

"getting anyone around here to agree on their favorite Four Seasons (Quattro Stagioni) will probably be about as easy as getting them to agree on their favorite speaker.."

Well said, Rel!!
To prove how right Rel is, here's another recommendation: The Musici, on Philips (a box with the whole Cimento de l'Armonia).
To DISprove Rel, I like the Gil Shaham version of the 4seasons, too :)

That's funny I have 2 different four season's and neither of them sound like that at all!! I guess I will have to try some of your suggestions. Are any of the SACD four season "good" there are so many versions of that particular piece of music its hard to figure out what is what.

I recently purchased "VIVALDI - LA STRAVAGANZA/VIOLIN CONCERTOS/RACHEL PODGER *SACD5.1*" and was listening to it last night. Count me in as a Vivaldi fan.

I have six different versions of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (le quattro stagioni). My favorite is the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir Neville Marriner. It's on Decca as part of their Legendary Performances. Sir Neville brings out all the instruments. From the sound of the harpsichord in the opening track to the perfection of Alan Loveday's violin, nothing compares with it!