I just hit a baker's dozen with five additions in the last month: Nigel Kennedy in a 25th Anniversary set with accompanying DVD Mutter and Karajan in a 101 CD Karajan remastered box Michala Petri (on recorder) in an RCA box set James Galway (on flute) in another RCA box - very nice it is too Someone or other in a Brilliant Classics Vivaldi box Only the Kennedy was a deliberate Four Seasons purchase
Great forum topic. Original. Non Beatles related. Refreshing. I have exactly one copy and it’s from a massive Phillips box set of Vivaldi performed by I Musici. It’s from the 60’s. I have to say I have heard many more modern interpretations that trounce my version yet they don’t exist on vinyl and, therefore, will never own them. I thought once that this was a piece newbie classical cliche. This things kills it the older Inget and the more I listen to it. He wasn’t Bach’s favorite composer for no good reason.
His name appears throughout the set. It may have been respected in it’s day, but the today today? I don’t think so. I will give it another spin.
I have 3, all on CD: Neville Mariner and the Academy of St.Martin-in-the-Fields on Argo Christopher Hogwood and The Academy of Ancient Music on L'Oiseau-Lyre Jeanne Lamon and Tafelmusik on Sony Classical The Marriner is a renowned classic, the Hogwood I bought after hearing it in a record store, and the Tafelmusik one I bought recently and I've only listened to it once so far. A couple of years ago I heard a busker play "Spring" on solo violin. That was memorable.
This is like asking if Ludwig mastered Zep II a hundred times and trying to find out what the best sounding one was.
I have the Telarc CD by the Boston Symphony which I purchased way back in the mid 80s. Haven't played it much in the past 30 years.
Just one copy, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Jonathan Carney, includes Vivaldi, Pachelbel Canon, Bach Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G BVW1048. Recorded digitally October 1993 at All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak - except Canon recorded at Abbey Road, Studio 1. Tring International TRP009
I have about four or five different versions, however, at this point in time, I only listen to this version. I have it in DSD 512, and while the performance is absolutely outstanding, the is sound is just plain spectacular.
So I shouldn't mention I have a reel of The Beatles messing around playing some of The Four Seasons? I have three...one on Japanese Koto, then ah...blanking out. The Hogwood. And Trevor Pinnock with the English Concert, I really like that version, recommended by a former boss when I asked him as he'd played in orchestras. Bob, ya never steered me wrong!
Stream 'em all and decide for yoursel! Said boss was not big on Neville Mariner hence the Pinnock, which has a nice performance I like with sound which is slightly bright/lively. Hogwood has a more...I dunno, it's got that L'Oiseau-Lyre sound which is pretty neutral.
I was going to mention something about there being almost as many versions of Four Seasons as there are of Yesterday, but thought better of it
I have two: Infinity Digital Orchestra "Classic Music Studio" St. Petersburg Conducted by Alexander Titov 1994 Vanessa-Mae The Original Four Seasons and The Devil's Trill Sonata 1998