ANTONIO VIVALDI
The Four Seasons

1 Sonata in D minor op. 1 no 12, La Follia [RV 63] 9:52

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Le Quattro Stagioni op. 8 nos 1-4:

Concerto in E major, La Primavera [RV 269]
2 Allegro 3:43
3 Largo e pianissimo sempre 2:35
4 Allegro. Danza pastorale 3:56

Concerto in G minor, L’Estate [RV 315]
5 Allegro non molto 5:51
6 Adagio e piano – Presto e forte 2:26
7 Presto 2:41

Concerto in F major, L’Autunno [RV 293]
8 Allegro 5:18
9 Adagio molto 1:47
10 Allegro 2:55

Concerto in F minor, L’Inverno [RV 297]
11 Allegro non molto 3:52
12 Largo 1:54
13 Allegro 3:29

*

14 Andante (Ciaccona) from Violin Concerto in D major [RV 222] 3:55

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About this album

With her version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Leila Schayegh continues her exploration of the violin repertory, always combining musical insight, virtuosic brilliance and historical understanding. Over the last years, the Swiss musician has become one of the leading violinists of her generation (and is helping the next one, thanks to her position as professor in the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis).

On this dazzling new exhibition, Schayegh –who plays a late 17th-century Andrea Guarneri instrument– is joined by the fine and colourful ensemble Musica Fiorita, directed by Daniela Dolci. The opera composer Vivaldi is omnipresent in all of these four violin concertos, also thanks to the use of elements of Baroque theatre: the sounds of wind machines or bird whistles contribute to making this a delightful, fascinating and “different” version of one of the most recorded works of all times.

The album also includes Vivaldi’s Follia (Sonata op. 1 no 12) and the Ciaccona from the Violin Concerto in D major. An essay by Schayegh herself and a photo series by Susanna Drescher complement a project which will be a pleasurable surprise for lots of listeners.