It's clever, but only for a short dose.

Not too sure about this version of T4S, seems a bit dry to me...

Vanessa-Mae – The Original Four Seasons And The Devil's Trill Sonata
Label: EMI – 7243 4 98082 2 5
Format: CD, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1998

A legend in her own mind

Watch the documentary to get idea how bonkers she is

Yes 4 Season lovers I have another disc for your consideration. This "HIP" edition comes all the way from the US of A - San Fran to be precise and features Elizabeth Blumenstock, concertmaster of Philharmonia Baroque.

I'm still listening but I have thoroughly enjoyed what I have heard so far. I might call it middle of the road in terms of tempo and attack, but the playing is anything but middle of the road, both in terms of the solo violin and orchestra which share a noble elegance and a lovely coherence about their approach and tone. I can't make a sensible comment on sound quality with my listening at present, so I will leave that for others.

spotify.link/6IgQGS5moDb

I had forgotten that I have a ticket to see Fabio Biondi & Europa Galante in a couple of weeks at the Barbican!

Am looking forward to it even more having heard the above recording. I would have preferred a smaller venue of course but they will be playing T4S, each movement interspersed with another Baroque work, should be fab.

That's the first recording Martin, the one I linked to above is the second which is certainly more aggressive and faster tempos in places.

Greetings T4S lovers, we are back in business with a new recording to consider!

Julien Chauvin and Concert de la Loge.

I've only listened to a little but it's interestingly idiomatic with an earthy period instrument feel.

There's an intriguing backstory here from Chandos -

"Nearly three centuries after Antonio Vivaldi composed the Four Seasons, the most famous work in the history of music is still as lively and invigorating as ever. The Concert de la Loge records this baroque treasure with its founding conductor, the violinist Julien Chauvin, who has been lent an exceptional instrument for the occasion by the Château de Versailles: Nicola Gagliano's Neapolitan violin, adorned with fleur-de-lis and inlaid decorations. The violin was played by Yehudi Menuhin in the 1970s and became part of the collection known as "Madame Adélaïde's", one of Louis XV's daughters. It has never left the Château for almost a century and is in perfect condition."

Earthy indeed, although I don't mind so much a different intonation.

I guess I'm more used to the Drottningholm where the lead violinist sounds like a lead, shining forward of the orchestra and truly soaring. This one isn't.

I have several recordings of the 4 Seasons including Nigel Kennedy, I Musici, Anne Sophie Mutter & The Academy of St Martins in the Fields violin Alan Loveday.

I recently recorded the 4 Seasons on my Virgin box The Academy of Ancient Music with violinist Rachel Podger, she plays a violin made in Genoa in 1739 by Pesarinius a later student of Antonio Stradivari.

The Academy has fewer members than most orchestras together with their older or occasionally reproduction older instruments offers a different timbre to the modern renditions therefore an equally enjoyable but different perspective or insight to the seasons akin to older cut gemstones rather than more modern brilliant cut & dare I say closer to what an audience would have heard when Vivaldi wrote it. I may well see if there is an LP of this combination of The Academy of Ancient Music with violinist Rachel Podger.

A bit of research showed that Podger recorded the 4 Seasons in 2018 with Brecon Baroque with only 8 performers, who like the The Academy of Ancient Music includes a Theorbist, I had to look it up, a Theorbo is a long neck large lute visible behind the harpsichord in the photo & unusually a Harpsichord & chamber organ I think it might be worth a punt.

As you can see I'm not pretty I could not find any way to avoid my reflection.