The Four Seasons
Introduction
All of the CDs mentioned in this essay have much to recommend them and I wouldn’t willingly part with any of them. In a year’s time my thoughts may differ enormously from what I’ve found and recorded on this listening cycle. Sarah Chang’s CD used to be my favourite performance of the Four Seasons.
I will post the CD details on the ‘What are you listening to Thread’:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11&p=23023#p23023
The five CDs are:
Sarah Chang (violin) and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Janine Jansen (violin) and her ensemble
Sigiswald Kujiken (violin) and La Petite Bande
Enrico Casazza (violin) and La Magnifica Comunita
Fabio Biondi (violin) and Europa Galante
Spring
Allegro
Chang introduces Spring with lovely full ensemble playing by her and the Orpheus Orchestra. Chang is supported by the Orpheus with 4 1st violins; 4 2nd violins; 4 violas; 3 cellos; 1 double bass and 1 harpsichord. Kuijken with La Petite Band on period instruments appears to have a big ensemble although the CD cover provides us with no information in this regard. He takes it at a slower tempo than Chang and provides us with a lovely contrast to Chang’s modern sound. Jansen has the smallest group in this collection and her light touch on the Allegro is delightful, it is well recorded, this group is able to produce a big sound when needed and Jansen’s Stradivarius is to the fore in this introduction. Casazza adds further colours to his tonal palette with the inclusion of a baroque guitar in a very lively performance of the first Allegro.
Largo
Jansen’s group, consisting of Jansen (violin) and 2 violins; 1 viola; her brother on cello; 1 double bass and her father on box organ and harpsichord, in this movement they sound like a string quartet, the deliver a gorgeous tiny but full sound, it is superb. Biondi’s tone illuminates the Largo, he and Europa Galante demonstrates how the slow passages provide a great balance in this work. Chang’s playing is very light, almost hidden
Allegro
A lively sumptuous dance by Europa Galante lead us into a great solo by Biondi; whilst La Petite Band play at a more laid tempo, Kuijken’s playing is delightful, it doesn’t suffer as a result. Casazza, too, has a laid back approach and there is lovely expressive playing by the Jansen’s group which really does it for me.
Summer
Allegro
This is the longest movement in the concerto and the shortest in this listening comparison at 5’ 15’’ is Jansen’s. It is an Allegro but it alternates between slow and fast passages and explodes in the middle section and then returns to slow, fast again. Jansen has a gorgeous tone and the middle section is performed with glorious aplomsb by her and the ensemble. Chang by comparison has a modern, full chamber orchestral sound although her playing is lighter than Jansen’s. Casazza and La Magnifica Comunita have an entirely different sound as they play on period instrument, the ensemble consists of 6 violins; 1 viola; 1 violincello; 1 violne; 1 archlute/baroque guitar; 1 organ; 1 harpischord and one is inclined to compare and contrast their sound and approach with Biond and Kuijken.
Adagio
This is introduced by lovely restrained playing by Biondi with Europa Galante in support. Kuijken, true to form, takes the Adagio at a slower tempo to Biondi and his performance lasts 2’56” compared with Biond’s 2’17”. Jansen’s approach is to take it a faster tempo and again her playing is infectious.
Presto
Jansen’s gives a towering performance of the end of summer, it is wonderful. It is played at a fast tempo, delivering a huge sound from this little group and is a real joy to listen to. Chang’s larger Orpheus Orchestra has a big full sound too but Jansen’s ensemble makes a bigger impression on this listener, so I prefer their performance. And now returning to period instrument ensembles and the tremendous Europa Galante, this orchestra boasts 6 violins; 2 violas; 2 violoncellos; 1 violone and is complete with Renaldo Allessandriani on cembalo. Their take on the close of summer is a real tour de force, they fill the room with a thunderous sound, it is marvellous stuff. Kuijken takes it at a slower tempo, I prefer a quick, bombastic approach, it is a lovely musical performance nevertheless.
Autumn
Allegro
Kuijken heralds the arrival of Autumn with a rather charming relaxing dance, again it’s not rushed, nothing is with Kuijken. Chang plays this at a faster tempo with her modern ensemble and it is a lovely performance. Jansen and her septet weave beautiful patterns of sound as they alternate between slow and fast tempi in this movement.
The structure of the Four Seasons of fast-slow-fast for each season contains slow and fast music in some Allegros thereby ensuring that the listener does not tire of the same sound, the music never gets monotonous.
Adagio
An introduction on the harpsichord opens the Adagio in this sleepy dance through Autumn by the Jansen ensemble, it’s lovely. Casazza’s approach is similar.
Allegro
The Allegro opens with Cazarra’s orchestra including guitar lead us into a delightful dance producing a gorgeous sound on this 2006 recording. A lively jaunt introduces the Galante with Biondi as soloist, I love Biondi’s playing in this 1991 recording. Chang and the Orpheus take it at a slower tempo than the Casazza and Biondi approaches. There is a big difference in orchestral colour from the period instrument ensembles and I feel that Chang’s Four Season’s works very well. Her approach though is not as intense as say the Biondi or as Jansen’s 2004 recording and for that reason I now find it lacking.
Winter
Allegro
Chang gently announces the arrival of the shivering winter, it is lovely playing. Biond’s haunting introduction gives me the shivers, it is a dramatic introduction to winter, we know that the season has changed for the worse, we, Biondi and Europa Galante dance to stay warm. Tip, tap, tip, tap, Jansen’s winter is not as cold but is very dramatic: dance, dance, keep warm, dance, dance.
Largo
The Largo is quite simply a wonderful piece of music. It is beautifully played by Jansen with perfect pizzicato support from her supporting group. Care must be taken not to have this sound like the imagined clip, clop, clip, clop of a cart horse. I have often thought, perhaps unkindly, that Chang has conjured that imagine for me. Biondi’s spine tingling sound is delivered at a perfect tempo. Cazarra’s approach is lovely too, with his rich tonal colours this 2 CD set on the Brilliant Classics label is well worth getting. Kuijken’s recording, on a date unknown and with no information on the personnel, is part of a much larger and really splendid 60 CD Harmonia Mundi box set, which is a great find, I’d recommend that too
Allegro
Kuijken brings us slowly and carefully across the ice. Biondi and Europa Galante nervously guide us across at a similiar tempo and pick up the tempo in order to arrive safely on the other side on this wonderful recording, he then slows down and moves ever so carefully again. Jansen leads her ensemble through the slow, fast, slow, fast movement and brings it and the Four Seasons to a glorious stirring conclusion.
Conclusion
There are many different classical recordings available of these works but I can only comment on the five in my collection. My first choice is the Fabio Biondi, this is a group of musicians who sound as if they are in love with this music and play it with great passion, fire and subtlety too when required to do so. This ensemble of Italian musicians is led by an Italian conductor and soloist playing the music of an Italian composer, it’s in their blood. The Jansen’s set is intriguing, it is a tiny, tightly knit group but they produce a marvellous big and small sound too. The Casazza 2 CD set contains all 12 Opus 8 Concertos and is definitely worthy of consideration.
Addendum
And later this week I will discuss my thoughts on a real big band approach to the Four Seasons but perhaps not one that Fergus will approve of, we'll see.
[Edit to correct spellings]
