"Milan Records owns the rights to a lot of the later Piazzolla canon, and since his death has steadily been mining its holdings with a number of CD reissues and compilations that are readily identified as Milan's by the similarity of the cover art used. Don't be fooled by the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, however. While it is a fine recording, Piazzolla does not appear on it as anything but the composer.
I didn't read the back of the CD cover before I bought it and so when I opened it, I was surprised to find that the cover had fooled me into thinking Piazzolla was featured. I played it anyway, prepared for the worst, as many offerings of Piazzolla compositions turn out mediocre at best. At first, it seemed like my fears were confirmed, but after several listens I warmed to the music.
Those familiar with AP's "Four Seasons" sequence know that they are among the most classically oriented of his works and have only the slightest connection to tango. But they also know that when performed by Piazzolla and one of his musical formations, that they are among the most powerful of his longer works. Anyone taking on the task of interpretation had better know well what the heck they are doing or risk making musical fools of themselves.
This interpretation of the "Four Seasons" is done by a Brazilian orchestra that in my view started rather weakly. It isn't until "winter" (Invierno Porteno) was reached that the power and majesty of the music comes to fruition.
From there on out, the rest of the CD is quite good. My favorites of the remainder are the three parts of the "Libertango" sequence that they performed and which features some excellent mandolin work and Deus Xango, which closes the recording with a jazzy rendering oddly reminiscent of some of the old CTI-era jazz recordings.
The weakness of the start drops a star, but its the rest of the recording which puts this in the recommended category for anyone who loves the music of Astor Piazzolla."
Superb collection
Kurt Harding | 05/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Superb collection of Piazzolla's 'new tango': four ear-bending modern arrangements followed by an array of traditional performances. Because of its versatility and constant quality, this disc easily lets itself play from start to end and over again. Four seasons for the ear indeed."
Piazzolla brazillian version
J. C. Fraga | Faial isl, Azores | 05/17/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Only Astor Piazzolla could equal himself. A bandoneon virtuoso playing his own works, nobody could do better than him. However Four Seasons of Buenos Aires deserves a place of honour in the cd collection of Piazzolla's fans."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1