Sarah Chang - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Vivaldi has been accused--rather unjustly--of writing the same violin concerto over and over, but no one can deny that the Four Seasons are quite different from the others. Described as the first examples of program music, they evoke the sounds of nature so realistically that one can hear the thunder, the wind, the rain, the singing of the birds, the murmuring of the brook, the barking of a dog. One also hears the sounds of humanity: bagpipes, hunting horns, harvest dances, even shepherds snoring. To "better explain the music," Vivaldi wrote a descriptive sonnet for each Concerto, heading every section with the salient lines. The Seasons present a formidable challenge to the soloist's technical command, tonal variety and imagination; they have been recorded so many times that any violinist who wants to add to the discography must have something distinctive and personal to offer. Sarah Chang has both the brilliant technique and the extroverted personality needed to put her own stamp on the music. Her approach is essentially programmatic. She follows Vivaldi's instructions with obvious relish, using her dazzling virtuosity and all her instrumental resources to create mood and atmosphere and to conjure up vivid pictures of "seasonal" events. Tempi range from beautifully calm slow movements to fast passages at headlong speeds. Contrasting dynamics and articulation, ponticello, trills that give off sparks; colorful nuances, from unvibrated and glassy, to throbbing and passionate, serve to underline Vivaldi's imagery. The result is a dramatic, technically fearless, emotionally uninhibited performance, which, though far from baroque, is honestly felt and convincing in its own way. As an encore, Sarah Chang plays the familiar "G-minor Concerto" with charm and vivacity, and an almost romantically luxurious tone. Totally incongruous with the natural spontaneity of her playing, the booklet shows her in nine terribly affected poses, glamorously attired, amid autumn leaves and snowflakes. --Edith Eisler Amazon.com

A very pleasant surprise...A winner!

I didn't think I would care much for this for two reasons: 1). I usually prefer music from this time played on period instruments and 2). Everytime I have heard the "conductorless" Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, I have come away thinking that they sound conductorless. What got me to buy it was a favorable review in Fanfare by a reviewer for whom I have great respect. Well, he was right. This recording will not replace the two I love dearly (English Concert and Monica Huggett with the Raglan Players), both of which are on "original instruments," but Sarah Chang plays with such joy and verve that it is simply not possible not to love this recording.

I saw her in person playing the Bruch G minor concerto and she was absolutely wonderful and I thought then that I should really have some of her recordings. And also to my surprise, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra makes a most sympathetic partner in this endeavor. I had great doubts about this Four Seasons and how pleased I am to be wrong. November 8, 2008

Wonderful Clarity and Tone

I absolutely loved this cd! I have always been a fan of the four seasons, and Sarah Chang plays it with such beautiful clarity and tone, it makes it all the more better. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves the four seasons. September 16, 2008

Falling in love with Vivaldi all over again!

I used to love Vivaldi. His "Four Seasons" always elicited a warm response from me. Then, over a period of many years, I was a victim of over-Vivaldization. Vivaldi was everywhere, from the elevator music, to the music in the Italian restaurants, where his music was garlic-infused. I would not complain except that the performances were of a type "just keep it even, do not get anybody musically excited, the purpose is for Vivaldi to be in the background, so that we can ride the elevator or digest our food peacefully". The bland sound of the violins, no dynamics, semi-romantic cheep effects, and the music at its worst did it for me. No more Vivaldi for me! I think that the final decision was made when I was eating somewhere in Europe a horrible watery pizza with different toppings in each of its quadrants, named "Le Quatro Staggione" ("Four Seasons" in Italian) while my ears were abused by just about the worst performance of Vivaldi in history.
Well, this was then. I was intrigued by Sarah Chang's recording of Vivaldi, with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. I got her record with the single objective: can she reconnect me with Vivaldi, can she erase bad memories of Vivaldi in the elevators and restaurants? Can she make me fall in love with Vivaldi again?
The answer is YES! Sarah Chang is a true talent, a great performer, her Vivaldi flows, full of intricate details; her sound is lush, warm, full, resonating, and definitely captivating. She is phenomenal! Her performance is memorable. She is genuine in her interpretation of Vivaldi. I particularly liked the little effects that we, amateur violinists, desperately try to produce: the smooth, yet not too smooth double stops, and the little biting sound when multiple strings are engaged by a big bow stroke. While we try to imitate (and it shows), Sara Chang not only knows these bowing delights, but she re-invents them! These "little" details make a great master performer!
The booklet which comes with the CD has the sonnets that go with each movement of these concerti, which Sarah Chang comments on as being integral to her interpretation of the music.
I am delighted with this recording, and I am sure you will be too.
Five starts, well deserved!

July 27, 2008

One of the Best of the Non-Italian Entries in the 4 Seasons Sweepstakes

This standout composition by Vivaldi need not continually overshadow so much else by this great composer. Vivaldi not only in the Four Seasons as heard on this CD but throughout his career creates a whole world of breath taking innovative changes in the music of his time. Much of his achievement can be discovered through Michael Talbot's authoritative writings on the Italian Baroque in music. Talbot's book on Vivaldi is a must purchase for anyone wishing to go beyond this one work. the Four Seasons, and discover many more fabulous treasures. Talbot's book also is very well-written, a nice plus when reading about the past and a subject - classical music - that can easily turn pedantic.Vivaldi (Master Musicians Series) Fans of the Four Seasons should make every effort to try some of Vivaldi's other works, music which captivated an entire generation of composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach. Do not hesitate to hear La Stravanga, Opus 4, under the leadership of another wonderful violinist, Rachel Podger, playing and leading original instruments, Stravaganza: Violin Concerti Op 4 1-12 For a walk on the wild side try the sensational playing of the L'estro armonica Opus 3, with Fabio Biondi - very controversial - Vivaldi : L'estro armonico / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante

In this brand new recording of the Four Seasons with Chang and the Orpheus, EMI almost certainly has a winner. I hate to promote a CD which will certainly receive the full media treatment, but this is more than just another up and coming violinist making the umpteenth recorded run through of the Four Seasons to placate marketing. Ms Chang, who has at times sounded a tad less emotional than I prefer in the Romantic repetoire, certainly shows off a strong affinity for this music's multiplicity of emotions. The Four Seasons may be deadly familiar, but that by no means makes it easy! Sarah Chang's just slightly too forwardly recorded violin playing needs make no apologies to anyone. Only a very few violinists play this work this well. It's a real joy listening to her negotiate all the trickiest passages and rarely scuffing or losing her tone. Many listeners in Vivaldi's time routinely felt the Italian violin masters, such as Vivaldi himself, played and composed music that was too extroverted and dramatic, sacrificing beauty of tone. Too often even fine modern players run rather roughshod in this work. Yet there are exceptions such as Ms Chang who allow us to enjoy our cake and eat it too! There are only a few passages in the music where her pitch isn't quite dead on, and believe me, no one else can run this obstacle course cleanly either! You have to know the music and violin playing to appreciate just how difficult it is to play this music. Her group the Oprheus as a whole is also quite good, though perhaps not quite in the same class as one or two of the very finest groups who have previously recorded this music. (See the older but still mightly impressive I Musici version Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) Despite that one niggling reservation I wholeheartedly agree with everone else here at Amazon. The recording does a fine job capturing the nuances of Chang's playing and she's so good as to leave me wondering how I can mark this CD down. And I can't.

Though not my first choice in this music - I still lean to I Musici overall for urbanity and polish, while turning to the first verison with Fabio Biondi for lights out excitement - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Fabio Biondi & Europa Galante- this is still an extraordinarily well-played and lively rendition and one that should please the most demanding of critics as well, I might add, as all the rest of us! May 18, 2008

Splendid Vivaldi Four Seasons From Sarah Chang and Orpheus

Having seen last Saturday a resounding performance of this work by Sarah Chang and Orpheus at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, I knew already that this would be a fine recording. It is quite simply, one of the very best performances of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" that I have heard either live or in recordings. Chang and Orpheus play these venerable concerti as though they were all members of the same ensemble. While Chang has ample opportunities to show her ebullient personality in her solos, she doesn't try to steer the performance in her direction, performing as if she was a long-time member of Orpheus. Her technically proficient playing is quite fluid, but still one replete with ample emotional richness. Of the recent recordings of the "Four Seasons" that I am aware of, Chang's comes closest to Mutter's with respect to audio sound quality and musicianship. May 16, 2008

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