Tuesday 28 August 2012

Vivaldi - The Four Seasons [Mutter/ Karajan-Wiener Philharmonker] 

Here's another Four Seasons by Vivaldi, one of the most popular works in classical music, some people hate it because of an over-exposure to the music, but i actually love this work, i have several versions, most with Internationally known Violinists, and i never seem to get bored with this work, it's good to hear Mutter's interpretation of it today. 

Anne-Sophie Mutter is German, she's now 49, she recorded this work here with Karajan in 1984, however she re-recorded the work with a smaller group [the Trondheim Soloists] in 1999, this is the bigger 'symphonic' interpretation, maybe more regal and majestic, whereas the 'chamber' interpretation is more individual and zesty, both work, and it's good to have both extremes, the front and back inlay are excellent [photos by Snowdon, i take it that's Lord Snowdon = Anthony Armstrong-Jones], the picture in a wood, sunlight dappling through the trees, Mutter with her violin, it's a great pic, upper three fifths tree trunks, lower two fifths the woodland floor, Mutter brings a wonderful dash of colour and human-ness to the picture, the small white lettering above is excellently laid out too, and Karajan on the back, a much darker shot, but he's well lit.

It was Winter that i found exhilarating, especially the opening movement, . 

Here's on Anne-Sophie Mutter playing the first movement of Winter on YouTube, Herbert Von Karajan conducting.