Track Listing

1. Spring: I. Allegro
2. Spring: II. Largo
3. Spring: III. Danza Pastorale
4. Summer: I. Allegro Non Molto
5. Summer: II. Adagio
6. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in G minor ('L'estate,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 2), Op. 8/2, RV 315: Prest
7. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F major ('L'autunno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 3), Op.8/3, RV 293: 1st
8. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F major ('L'autunno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 3), Op.8/3, RV 293: 2nd
9. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F major ('L'autunno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 3), Op.8/3, RV 293: 3rd
10. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F minor ('L'inverno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 4), Op. 8/4, RV 297: All
11. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F minor ('L'inverno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 4), Op. 8/4, RV 297: Lar
12. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F minor ('L'inverno,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 4), Op. 8/4, RV 297: All
13. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 ('The Devil's Trill'): 1. Adagio ma non troppo
14. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 ('The Devil's Trill'): 2. Presto
15. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 ('The Devil's Trill'): 3. Largo
16. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 ('The Devil's Trill'): 4. Allegro

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42599 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Original language: German
• Dimensions: .30 pounds

Amazon.com
We've grown so accustomed to seeing violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter gracing album covers in her flowing formal gowns that this recording of Vivaldi's masterpiece may come as a shock to her fans, at least at first glance. Mutter, it appears, has been influenced by Gap culture, looking relaxed and appearing in jeans on the album cover. To coincide with this release, she even released a music video, featuring the Trondheim Soloists and herself performing the glorious work and looking like they're having a blast. Is this the shape of classical music to come? Let's hope so. Mutter's performance here, as usual, is top-notch. The opening movements of Spring sound delightful, the Summer storm sounds frenzied, and during Winter's second movement, you can practically hear the chill being warded off by a fire. Her impeccable tone is, as usual, gorgeous and the conductorless Trondheims provide a fine, if slightly obscured, accompaniment. Filling out this disc is Tartini's Sonata in G Minor (better known as The Devil's Trill), a wonderful piece of baroque violin virtuosity. There have never been so many recordings of Four Seasons available as right now; there really is no definitive version anymore. This one, however, is easy to recommend. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Judge it on its own merits
Anne Sophie will sell many copies of this album, true. The interpretation is shocking, unorthodox, true. The playing is very strong, especially for baroque, true. Are these reasons to hate this album? Perhaps, but that's not even a mater of opinion, rather merely of politics. Any way you slice it, this recording is unique. It's certainly not a particularly authentic or faithful rendition of Vivaldi's work, but it is certainly different from everything else out there. Moreover, the playing is good, precise, and the recording is well balanced and technically well done. I personally have multiple recordings of the 4 Seasons, precisely because each of them brings something different to the work. Authentic performances highlight different parts of the scoring and ornamentation, and modern orchestras simply have technologically superior violins with fuller, lush sound, and create performances with more force and expressiveness. Anne Sophie's recording is all new, it's living music. At times, it's raw and forceful, and at times it's serene, and in many regards exceeds the levels of both that other recordings achive. Some may think it goes too far at times, and I would almost include myself among those folk. I've listened to it several times, but I'm not going to buy it--it doesn't add much more for me to the 3 recordings I already have (one authentic performance, one really good modern performance with a chamber orchestra, and one with a really good soloist), since each of the three I have include passages that are particularly aggressive, particularly serene, or particularly well played. I commend the recording, however, and I'm glad I heard it.
Additionally, I would point out that Europa Galante just released an authentic instrument performance of not just the 4 seasons, but the entire Cimenta dell'armonia e dell'inventione, the larger work that the seasons concerti are part of. The performance is nuanced and innovative, quite unlike any other reading.

an artist in her prime
You won't find many recordings of the famed Red Priest's masterpiece that can match this one. I'd put Shaham with the Orpheus CO (also on DG) in the same ballpark, but I know of no recording that reaches the levels of beauty and improvisational flare found on this recording. Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Trondheim soloists have given us a Four Seasons for the ages.

First, the obvious-Mutter wants us to "hear" this disc with our eyes. The accompanying notes are filled with the art of Gotthard Graubner as well as some lovely photos of Mutter. While some people seem to have a problem with this "commercialism," I do not (icing on the cake if you ask me).

Now, to the actual music-let me start by saying that this is no "vanity" project (this is Mutter's second recording of the work-so some seem to think her suspect). Whereas Mutter's first recording with Karajan was musically adept and refined, this Four Seasons is the product of true artistry. Pared down but not forced, insightful, but not idiosyncratic--I would say this recording is best described as a playful work of love.

This second recording by Mutter tops other Four Seasons that I have head in many ways. In particular--it, like nature, has an innate freedom. This is music that flows naturally, unpredictably, and is always full of wonder.

Where this disc truly separates itself from other recordings of the work is in its palpably frigid "Winter." Mutter's violin IS the biting cold. You might want to have a sweater handy when you listen.

The Devil's Trill, the filler piece on the disc, is possibly given an even better performance than the stunning Four Seasons. Both pieces are programmatic and fantasy driven. Both create stunning sound-pictures.

Yet beyond all the fantasy and beauty, this music speaks to me of a greater truth that would at first seem fantasy. Music of this depth and spirit is indeed evidence of an artist in her prime. More importantly, it is further irrefutable evidence of the beauty, depth, wonder, and goodness of the One who set the lights in the expanse of the heavens to mark the Four Seasons.

Great fun!
This CD is best listened in comparison with Mutter's earlier recording of the Four Seasons with von Karajan: one feels that the old recording was the work of the dutiful protege, playing a technically perfect piece with the maestro, while this new recording, on the other hand, casts away all stuffy inhibitions. One can almost hear Mutter saying to Von Karajan, "Well, I did that textbook recording with you, but now let me do it MY WAY." And what fun "her way" turns out to be, with the music pulsating with energy and vibrancy at every twist. Sure, the pace sometimes seems irregular and temperamental, but the sheer fun the musicians are having simply shines through. The tones are rich, the turns of phrase unusual, and every note is heartfelt. The fast movements are vintage Mutter, with all the necessary devilry intact, while the slow passages are filled with an emotion that did not seem present in the old recording with von Karajan. If this is the new Mutter, I can't wait to hear more!