Vivaldi: The 4 Seasons Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment & Kati Debretzeni

• Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring"
• 1 I. Allegro 03:22
• 2 II. Largo e pianissimo sempre 02:34
• 3 III. Danza pastorale: Allegro 04:32
• The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer"
• 4 I. Allegro non moto 05:33
• 5 II. Adagio - Presto 02:19
• 6 III. Presto 02:52
• The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn"
• 7 I. Allegro 05:14
• 8 II. Adagio molto 02:40
• 9 III. Allegro 03:42
• The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter"
• 10 I. Allegro non molto 03:29
• 11 II. Largo 01:54
• 12 III. Allegro 03:16
• Total Runtime 41:27

Info for Vivaldi: The 4 Seasons

With its vivid poetry and technical ingenuity, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was ground breaking at the time of its release and to this day remains as influential and transfixing as ever. In this recording, violinist Kati Debretzeni directs the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in an energetic, historically informed performance. From the commanding heat of the Summer sun, to Winter’s foreboding darkness, the power of Vivaldi’s masterpiece is inescapable.

The booklet includes a ‘Guided tour of the Four Seasons’, allowing listeners to follow the poetry that inspired Vivaldi as they hear the performances on the disc, including additional composer’s notes from Vivaldi’s own scores.

Debretzeni sets out to highlight the descriptive aspect of the music by finding many more colours and contrasts in the orchestral texture than are usually heard, and the period instruments give the familiar movements a new attack, making the work sound as fresh today as the day it was written." (Classic FM)

"This is probably one of the noteworthy period-instrument ‘Seasons’ recordings." (Early Music Review)

"This performance is excellent, performed with panache and captured with a refreshingly bright sound which is highly enjoyable. The playing is indeed more descriptive than many, with staggering drunkard of Autumn followed by convincing dives, and the shivers of Winter suitably chilly with some excellent legno effects." (Musicweb International)

"This is a recording of the evergreen Four Seasons to remember and return to. The playing is sublime. Kati Debretzeni is a breath of fresh air at any time of the year. The chamber ensemble from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, led here by Alison Bury, includes a core of players that has been there from its formation who continue to play with the same joyful camaraderie and artistic precision." (Gramophone)

Kati Debretzeni, violin, director
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

The Choir of the Enlightenment
is formed of a group of professional singers, many of whom are soloists in their own right. In recent years the choir has appeared with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at British and European festivals, as well as regularly performing with them as part of their annual London concert series at the Southbank Centre.

The choir has taken part in many of the OAE’s recordings, including J S Bach cantatas bwv 205 and 114 and Purcell’s Odes for Queen Mary, both with Gustav Leonhardt, and Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Sir Simon Rattle, recorded live at Symphony Hall Birmingham. In July 2000, the choir and orchestra performed Bach’s B minor Mass on the 250th anniversary of his death. This concert, which was part of the bbc Proms Festival, was broadcast live on bbc Radio 3 and on bbc Television.

During recent seasons the Choir of the Enlightenment has performed Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas directed by Richard Egarr at the bbc Proms and at the Utrecht Festival; Charpentier’s David et Jonathas to celebrate the tercentenary of his death, (conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm) and has also taken part in performances of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and his version of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The choir took part in the OAE’s 21st Birthday Celebrations, Tim Carroll’s production of Dido and Aeneas, Bach’s St John Passion with Mark Padmore, Handel’s Belshazzar at the bbc Proms, directed by Sir Charles Mackerras, Haydn’s The Return of Tobias, conducted by Sir Roger Norrington and more recently, a performance of Haydn’s Creation conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

This album contains no booklet.