Knut Johannessen, Renata Kubala, Ricardo Kubala, Marit Laugen, Kristin Reigstad, Alexander Robson, Erling Skaufel, Tone Snidal, Torodd Wigum - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Tartini: The Devil's Trill

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 Amazon.com

Too brilliant

I bought this recording because Anne-Sophie Mutter's Autumn on her Meditation CD is so lovely -- but that version, as it turns out, was conducted by Von Karajan. The playing on this version is brilliant, but it's just too brilliant for me: the attack is so loud and aggressive that I couldn't settle down and enjoy the music nor even listen to the whole thing. The big lesson for me is to buy versions of her recordings in which she herself is not the conductor. I plan to donate this one to the local library and get the complete Von Karajan version. But in no way is this bad playing. It's just a matter of taste. If you like loud, flashy music, you will love this recording. November 12, 2008

So many split reviews on such a fine interpretation

I know it's a matter of taste but this recording is so alive and refreshing. Yeah, it's not on period instruments and there are some other really good interpretations out there that you may feel are better. BUT! how can you listen to this and deny it's beauty? Perhaps it's too unconventional. But therein lies the beauty of it. Even if it's unique doesn't make it inferior. Quite the contrary.

Anne-Sophie Mutter plays with grace and vivid expression. The Trondheim Soloists support her like true friends. Even if one argues that it's not true to form, it still is fabulously played in my book. I love it and am proud to keep it in my library along with two or three other fine interpretations of Vivaldi's: The Four Seasons. March 14, 2008

Exciting Highlights Dampened by Weak Support

It's easy to get used to listening to near-perfect recordings and performances of The Four Seasons. With so many recordings available, you can have your pick of styles.

I remember confidently ordering tickets for a local group's performance of The Four Seasons in Salzburg one summer. How could I go wrong? The performance started off in fine fashion. The soloist was huge, confident, and energetic. The rest of the group was solid and enthusiastic. But after about 12 minutes, the soloist began to come apart at the seams. He couldn't complete the difficult sections in Summer. The group would restart and restart. I was fascinated.

I had almost forgotten that experience when I first listened to this recording. Such violin soloist flubs are unknown in the mature Anne-Sophie Mutter's recordings. But I was astonished to find that her supporting cast of Trondheim Soloists (led by Bjarne Fiskum and including soloists Byvind Gimse, and Knut Johannesen) was apparently playing a different piece, and not very well. Ms. Mutter is also credited as conductor. I suspect that she should have scheduled many more practices.

The recording also has moments when another take would have been in order.

But I learned something valuable from listening to Ms. Mutter soar about the muddled noise: It matters who else is playing with you for The Four Seasons.

If you are an Anne-Sophie Mutter fan (as I am), you'll undoubtedly want to listen to this CD. But I think you'll be more pleased if you limit yourself to the first allegro from Spring from The Four Seasons for 3 minutes and 36 seconds during which the Trondheim Soloists perform okay in the Simply Anne-Sophie CD. Good editing choice there.

I graded Anne-Sophie's playing as a five, the recording quality as a four, and the Trondheim Soloists as a 1. March 7, 2007

Not For The Purist, But I Think This Is The Best Recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"

Only a die-in-the-wool traditionalist will dislike this fine Deutsche Grammophon recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", which I regard as the best recording of it that I've heard, surpassing classic ones from the likes of I Musici. Indeed, the venerable Penguin Guide to Classical Music not only has given it its highest starred rating, but has noted succinctly that this recording is among the best available. And it's no wonder, considering the superb playing from the great German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Trondheim Soloists, especially from harpsichord player Knut Johannesen, whose own splendid musicianship ranks favorably with, for example, Trevor Pinnock. I was quite impressed that musically, this relatively unknown Norweigan chamber music ensemble could offer a performance as memorable as any from the English Consort and I Musici, but to their everlasting credit, they have done so in this rather fresh, quite vivid interpretation of Vivaldi's most popular works for harpsichord and strings. As for Mutter, she shows substantial dynamic range in her own virtuoso playing, offering, for example, in "L'Inverno" (Winter), a truly impassioned, yet icy, performance. Unlike the Penguin Guide, I was equally impressed with Mutter's playing and the Trondheim Soloists's interpretation of Tartinai's "Devil's Trill" Sonata in G minor. Without question, this fine recording remains among Mutter's best, and one which I look forward to hearing frequently for years to come. January 25, 2007

The best 4 seasons out there.

The title says it all. This is the cd to compare to all other performances of this work. Very similar to Karajan's interpretation. So if you like his then you'll love this.
Mutter is at her best and pulls off the visual images in her playing better than any other I've heard. You can feel the summer storm and the chill of the winter concerto. the Trondheim Soloist keep pace and drive the performance in a grand way.
One of my favorites. December 23, 2006

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