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

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!

Please try the version by Fabio Biondi and L'Europa Galante:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1076512

The link is enclosed for your reference and does not represent my endorsement for Tower Records.

Biodi presented a more joyous, lively and energetic interpretation of the music compared to the disciplined and reserved approach of Pinnock.

Have you ever heard the FOur Seasons played on the Japanese Koto instrument? The Koto Vivaldi LP remained on Absolute Sound's Harry Pearson's reference disc list for a long time but is out of print. I was fortunate enough to find one on eBay. This interpretation presented "dancing" feel because all the instruments were played by plucking the strings.

As yet another Vivaldi fan,allow me to recommend any of Vivaldi's concerti for 4 violins. If the "seasons",a series of four innerconnected violin concerti based upon the same thematic material,is an ice cream cone,the concerti for 4 violins is a hot fudge sundae with nuts and whipped cream.

A Vivaldi fan should never forget about "L'estro Armonico" and "La Cetra". "Four Seasons", I agree, is a great piece, but these two are my regerence. Both are unmistakenly Vivaldi. Enjoy!