Vivaldi, played badly, is the worst classical music on earth

Like most classical guys, I'm thoroughly sick of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  But I gotta say that one of my favorite slabs of vinyl is the DG Archiv release Concerti da Camera, Vivaldi chamber music performed by Musica Antiqua Koln.  Great tunes.  An unmistakable sense of fun.  18th Century upper class Italian party music.  Solid if not surpassing fidelity.  It actually prompted me to see Musica Antiqua Koln when they came to L.A. in the 1980's.  It was one of those concerts where you can meet & greet the band at a reception after the performance. Shook the hand of violinist bandleader Reinhard Goebel.

A minor point, but I don’t see anything wrong with Erik’s use of the word "classical" in the subject line of his initial post. He referred to "classical music," not to the "Classical period" of classical music. I doubt that anyone would reasonably deny that Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, Handel, Telemann, et al., composed classical music.

Also, my understanding is that the Classical period immediately followed the Baroque period, rather than being two time periods later.

Good point by JL35, about differing preferences for Baroque performances on period vs. modern instruments. I recall that what I believe was one of the earliest recordings of "The Four Seasons" on period instruments, ca. late 1970s, was particularly controversial. That being a performance by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus Wien. Some loved it, many hated it, my reaction was somewhere in between. In any event it was certainly different.

Best regards,
-- Al

 There was an exceptionally talented violin player in my daughters high school orchestra last year who performed a Vivaldi Concerto  solo with piano accompaniment at a concert last year. The precision but with feeling with which he played was breathtaking.  The distance between him and the average player was huge. 

Calling certain music "classical" insults all other forms of music, all periods and artist over the centuries that are just as much masters of their craft, but not from certain parts of Europe.  But I think that was the original intent.

The "Classical period" at least takes some of the insult away.

Artist always try to make a name for themselves by coming up with "their" version of certain pieces.  Hit and miss at best.

There are so many versions of Vivaldi's four seasons that I can't keep track.  Would be nice to see a "top ten list". 

enjoy