"Unfortunately, the immortal Four Seasons had come to be so overplayed and the melodies so familiar that I could barely stand to hear it. Then I heard this performance, and it was like I had never heard the music before. Orpheus and Gil Shaham infused new life into it. I could not stop listening. I played the CD over and over again--without the least fear of it becoming tedious. I cannot recommend this recording enough--a far cry from the myriad excessively mechanical and lifeless reproductions that nearly killed off this profoundly rich music, inspired more perhaps by the desire for a profit to be derived from the work's popularity than from a true understanding of the spirit behind it. Thank you, Gil Shaham and Orpheus."
Wonderful music by any standard
Laszlo Szijarto (lszijarto@aol.com) | 01/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Until a week ago I would have said that this is the finest version of The Four Seasons ever recorded. Shaham's approach is much like we used to hear from Jacqueline du Pre. Ferocious, full of intelligence and virtuosity, and with great love for the music. The disc is miked very close to his violin and the slightest growl and touch is clearly visable in this most dramatic of recordings. Now how could I not rate it the greatest recording of this music? Easy, I just bought Guiliano Carmignola's version on original instruments (which I usually don't care for) and it may be as perfect as any recording ever made...in every way. I have to say that If you truly love this music you must own both versions. Life is short, just bite the bullet and own them both. You won't regret it!"
Bright, fresh, and full of life....
Penumbra | Atlanta, GA USA | 07/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Shaham's version of "The Four Seasons" is outstanding! This interpretation is bright and full of life. It is quite moving and breathes life into a piece that is quite overplayed. There's a little CD ROM video available on this disk as well. I've yet to figure out the point of that. It seems to be only a snippet of some larger project, and serves only as a distraction from what is otherwise a masterpiece."
The most articulate phrasing of 4 Seasons ever recorded.
Penumbra | 08/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has teamed up with one of the concert world's most gifted solo violinists to give us perhaps the finest recording of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons ever made. The phrasing of every stanza is exquisite from beginning to end, and the emotional interpretation rings through with crystal clarity. The players leave nothing on the table and one is left with the very clear sense that these artists have a passion for their music and leave nothing on the table. The fact that no conductor is involved is no doubt at the heart of the amazing interpretive capacity of Orpheus. This particular performance of the 4 Seasons is a "must have" in any true audiofile's library."
Best rendition of the four seasons
Spencer Lent | Green Bay, WI United States | 10/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this album. I feel that Shaham and Orpheus make a great team on this album. Every instrument is crystal clear and the music never drags. It fits great with every season. When you listen to it, the emotion put into this music is drawn up into you so you can almost feel how cold and icy it is when they play Winter, or how torrential the storm is when they play summer. ANd I don't know if it is still on there, but the copy i got is a 2cd issue. The second cd is interactive, and it has the music video of "winter" that premeired on the weather channel. That is an excellent video. For any lovers of classical music I highly recommend this!!!!"