Anne-Sophie Mutter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (APE)

Performer: Trondheim Soloists, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Tino Alexander Fjeldi, Kristin Alsos Strand, Rolf Hoff Baltzersen
Composer: Giuseppe Tartini, Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor: Anne-Sophie Mutter
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 274 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in E major (“La Primavera,” The Four Seasons; “Il cimento” No. 1), Op.8/1, RV 269
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
with Trondheim Soloists
Conducted by Anne-Sophie Mutter

# Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in G minor (“L’estate,” The Four Seasons; “Il cimento” No. 2), Op. 8/2, RV 315
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
with Trondheim Soloists
Conducted by Anne-Sophie Mutter

# Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F major (“L’autunno,” The Four Seasons; “Il cimento” No. 3), Op.8/3, RV 293
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
with Trondheim Soloists
Conducted by Anne-Sophie Mutter

# Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in F minor (“L’inverno,” The Four Seasons; “Il cimento” No. 4), Op. 8/4, RV 297
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi
with Trondheim Soloists
Conducted by Anne-Sophie Mutter

# Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 (“The Devil’s Trill”)
Composed by Giuseppe Tartini
with Trondheim Soloists
Conducted by Anne-Sophie Mutter

01. Concerto for Violin and Strings in E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 “La Primavera” – 1. Allegro
02. Concerto for Violin and Strings in E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 “La Primavera” – 2. Largo
03. Concerto for Violin and Strings in E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 “La Primavera” – 3. Allegro (Danza pastorale)
04. Concerto for Violin and Strings in G minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 “L’estate” – 1. Allegro non molto – Allegro
05. Concerto for Violin and Strings in G minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 “L’estate” – 2. Adagio – Presto – Adagio
06. Concerto for Violin and Strings in G minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 “L’estate” – 3. Presto (Tempo impetuoso d’estate)
07. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 “L’autunno” – 1. Allegro (Ballo, e canto de’ villanelli)
08. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 “L’autunno” – 2. Adagio molto (Ubriachi dormienti)
09. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 “L’autunno” – 3. Allegro (La caccia)
10. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 “L’inverno” – 1. Allegro non molto
11. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 “L’inverno” – 2. Largo
12. Concerto for Violin and Strings in F minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 “L’inverno” – 3. Allegro
13. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in G minor, B. g5 – “Il trillo del diavolo” – 1. Larghetto affettuoso
14. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in G minor, B. g5 – “Il trillo del diavolo” – 2. Allegro
15. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in G minor, B. g5 – “Il trillo del diavolo” – 3. Andante – Allegro
16. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in G minor, B. g5 – “Il trillo del diavolo” – 4. Allegro assai

Mutter captures the vitality of Vivaldi

Anne-Sophie Mutter, the Valkyrie of the violin, leads heself and a band of Norsemen thrugh Vivaldi to Valhalla.
I usually smile when I hear the familiar strains of Vivaldi’s “Spring” secton of the four seasons. I listen mostly to jazz and only dabble in classical music. I was only vaguely aware that there were in fact four seansons, not just spring. But listening to Mutter’s exciting and passionate rendering of a summer storm completely beguiled me. To trespass into another genre, it totally rocks! And I was drawn into a complete year’s worth of seduction from the vixen virtuoso. Each season has its charm and even if you have your own favorite, none are to be missed. That include the fifth season which here is Tartini’s contribution.
I completely agree with Mutter’s assessment that a smallish chamber orchestra like the Norwegian Trondheim Soloist brings out the vitality of Vivaldi better than a large symphony orchesta could.
This is music that is so well done that it pull a jazz listener to classical. I was seduced, but not abandoned.