Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in th... - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

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I am writing a mid term paper on Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. I chose Joshua Bell because of the polished clarity in his work. I am so glad that I have gotten to listen to his work. I plan to listen to more of it.

I love all the songs! But I am disappointed with Winter Allegro Non Molto though... something doesn't sound right with it.... its really squeaky and sounds flat at some parts....

Why would someone with several well-loved recordings of the Four Seasons, including one by Seiji Ozawa recorded in her college chapel over 25 years ago, want yet another recording? Joshua Bell, of course. Just one stunning example = the first movement of the Winter concerto. Couldn't believe it - the almost human-voice quality of the first staccato passages; the absolute crispness of the fast orchestra passages; and the feathery pinpointedness and beautiful modulation of the violin solo. So glad I decided to listen to this great violinist and listen anew to this great Vivaldi piece!

There's a reason I have this guys autograph on my wall! He's truly amazing. Between Sarah Chang and Joshua, I like him the most.

We have all heard many interpretations of the Four Seasons. What we haven't heard is Josh Bell's fresh, and exquisite version of this piece by Vivaldi. His playing is clear, concise, yet lifts you to wonderful new heights. What a wonderful work by and wonderful violinist!

You can practically hear the horse hair breaking!

I’m grateful to the musicians who have reviewed, for I am nonesuch, but I have been listening to various renditions of this work for a skosh more than forty years. Joshua Bell just brought me to my feet with excitement! This is a truly fresh interpretation. Bell takes full advantage of the Baroque period’s expectation that the musicians connect the dots and bring the work to life. Bell’s violin and John Constable’s harpsichord spark off each other as though they were a pair of old jazz hands. The interview with Bell really adds to my enjoyment, as did the gratuitous inclusion of Tartini’s “Devil’s Trill Sonata” - written the same year that Bell’s Stradivarious was born. I would have enjoyed the free ’Digital Booklet’ photo album more if it had avoided that schticky-ick “old and cracked photo” treatment.

❤️

Joshua Bell continues to amaze me. He is so beautifully talented and puts such emotion into any piece of work put in front of him, and this is by no means an exception. Buy this if you have love the Four Seasons, or if you just love a great musician with great music. Excellent.

Sounds are crisp, precise, and do justice to one of the all-time great classical albums.

Joshua's music really is quite wonderful!! Very soothing!

Having just seen Joshua perform Vivaldi @ The Hollywood Bowl the other night, this album comes in second because seeing him perform is just amazing. He puts everything he has into his performance and it really shows. Bravo Joshua! Hope to see you next year in LA!

I love love love Vivaldi and Joshua Bell does a wonderful job at bringing the sounds to life.

I'm not an expert or anything, but before I heard this album 'The Four Seasons' had seemed to me almost like the stereotype for dry classical music. This is coming from somebody who loves classical music. So I was completely shocked upon listening to Joshua Bell and co.'s version. Every song in here hums with a truly evocative melody--the tone changes very effectively throughout, and it NEVER gets boring! The pieces for summer and winter were my favorites, but spring was fresh and fun while autumn seemed exactly as it ought to be. Autumn...y... So yeah, I say buy the whole thing! :) Traditional or not, it's totally worth it.

My favorite season song is autumn!

this is such a wonderful album. it soothes the soul.

Beautiful, crisp playing, however, not of the standard baroque. If you like to listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons as Vivaldi would have it played, this is not the recording for you. Full of obnoxious tempo and dynamic changes (It's a wonder the solo cello could anticipate Bell's sporadic playing), it's like the Fours Seasons got perversely transported into the Romantic era! Has some awesome harpsichord licks though!

I have played the violin for about 11 years now. I wish I could play half as good as he does... this is the most beautiful interpritation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. it is 100 percent worth the 9.99.

I understand why so many in the new generation of classical artists are taking pieces and adding synth, electric guitars, etc, and while I can appreciate the creativity of this, I'm an old-school classical fan. It's nice to find such a high-quality, clear and masterfully played recording, played as it was written centuries ago.

I am tired of complete and utter douchebags like arial whatever naysaying this lovely music. Why even bother to review it if ur gonna say mean things about it? That goes for you, too, big guy on da block, this is amazing. better tahn anything you douchebags listen to.

I imagine this is what heaven sounds like, Joshua bell is amazing. If i could see one artist it would be him.

LOVE this because all the songs are exciting!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)

Simply Stunning!

To ArialDemon0, if you don't like classical music, you have no business posting a review here. We don't need bigoted idiots like you. As far as the album goes, Joshua Bell does a great job at tackling Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". I have many versions of this work, as I am a huge fan of Vivaldi, as well as Joshua. Highly recommended!

There may not be, as one reviewer noted, much risk in this recording. It's not like Bell's other Baroque work, he doesn't deviate much from the proscribed "feel" of each season. But I feel that his artistic choice to do so is what really allows this piece to shine; he's not furiously trying to impress the listener with every note. It's as if he's meditating on the season in question WHILE he's playing. The violin is clear and crisp and energetic, and though the pace is less -- dazzling? -- than the Chang recording, the passion is there.

Bell's playing is good as always but this recording doesn't take any risks. The four seasons have been recorded so often that it is hard to find a fresh perspective. Thankfully he doesen't try anything too wacky like the Kennedy recording but still I was hoping for more. The Chang recording far out does him here and I'm a bit dissapointed with the way it was recorded. I wouldn't not recomend this recording, his reading is fine but a little stale. Maybe he should have tried reciting the poetry to spruce things up a bit. For a really fresh take check out the Janine Jansen recording.

...Joshua gave us!!! His interpretation of Vivaldi is fabulous. Also, track 6, Summer III is the music featured in a recent HP commercial. I'm not sure it's the version used in the commercial, but it's beautiful!!!

Bell's interpretation of the music is a bit bland to me. It lacks the excitement and emotion that should be there. It's also a little bit slow for my liking.

Joshua Bell is in tune, predictable, and records well.... but other than that, it's nothing to write home about. An interesting listen once, but nothing really usual or fresh. If you'd like new life breathed into your 'Seasons, check out Janine Jansen.

The production quality of this recording is outstanding and the added music video of "Summer" (Presto) much appreciated.

I'd have to say that Joshua Bell is pretty good but his style is odd and i don't like it, I've only listened to the previews of this album and others and they've been enough to make me cringe, which i probably why i have never really bought any of his music. Overall he plays beautiful but sometimes he adds a grace note or something and it takes away from the whole thing. One thing though that i do like him playing is Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. But overall i prefer Hilary Hahn.

a young and invigorating man. he has so much talent! wow i cant wait to hear what else he has

Joshua Bell's recording of the Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is not only wonderful, but also a demonstration! If you have just arrived to plant Earth and and never heard the Four Seasons then this is a must buy. This recording of the Four Seasons is the creme de la creme!

This young man is a genius! Joshua Bell is one of my favourites as is Yo Yo Ma. This album is amazing! (I have a friend who's brothers name is Joshua Bell and he also plays the violin! XD)

this track is full of pure beutiful playing i would buy it and not think twice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breathtakingly wonderful performances of Vivaldi's Four Seasons which are outstanding and unrelenting in their intensity, paired with a 14 minute exposition of Tartini's Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Basso Continuo (aka The Devil's Trill Sonata) which is a lovely, elegant, and virtuosic, the last four minutes of which are stunning.

Wow I love the use of dynamics in this album!!

Sorry everyone, but this is Nigel Kennedy's original arrangement of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons for violin from 1989. Check out the original and then listen to this. He has the ability, but not the originality. That makes a huge difference in my opinion, especially if he's trying to pass this off as his own interpretation which it is not.

Joshua Bell, one of my favorite violinists, presents us with a stunningly beautiful arrangement of Vivaldi's classic work. Truly worth a listen; in my opinion, one of the best versions of this collection I've ever heard.

Well, within my humble opinion, I think it was great... yet... it lacks certain passion/emotion that I expect from classical music. He plays beautiful, yet lacks that something that makes me feel I'm part of something bigger.

Joshua Bell's interpretation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons is quite inspiring. While the harpsichord does stand out from the other string instruments, I felt that it added to the "baroqueness" of the music. Unlike the terraced dynamics that you would expect with baroque period music, the gradually shifting dynamics in this interpretation added to the beauty of the Four Seasons. The best violin music is played with feeling in which I believe Bell does quite well. Sometimes it's hard to find a viola player to complement the soloist in the second movement of La Primavera (Spring). It's either too soft, too loud, or the notes are off. While I like the performance on this recording, I thought the viola player of Tafelmusik with violin soloist Jeanne Lamon sounded better.

Vivaldi may have passed away, but not his music. Joshua Bell makes the old sound fresh and wonderful. This woulda appeal to anyone with even a little appreciaton for music in all its forms. Bravo Mr. Bell.

A great album. I sincerely wish that more people appreciated classical music.

I realize everyone hears music in different ways but for our household, this is the best version of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" we have in our collection. (and we have many) Joshua Bell hits every note with a personal, perfect performace.

This music is brilliant and beautifully executed. I am very disappointed in comments from several listeners such as "get a guitar", etc. Grow up, if you do not like classical music, then please refrain from writing reviews for the music. Honestly, ITunes gives us all the ability to review entertainment, but please use your mind and write comments that are mature and written with the same integrity as the musicians gave to their music.

So exciting to have the most beautiful violin piece played by the best violinist of our time! Perfection! Really enjoyed the crisp, clear recording! Wonderful for anyone who appreciates the beauty of classical music!

As a musician and music student I typically studied and played jazz, and listen to an awful lot of heavy metal music, but lately my interests have expanded into classical-style music. And the four seasons, being one of the most famous classical selections, seemed a must-have. So after digging around iTunes for a time, I heard this performance was the best. I am not disappointed at all. A marvelous performance!! My favorite "season" is summer.

Joshua Bell is one of my favorite violinists, bringing a new life to peices that may seem to be overused. This is one of the best recordings of the Four Seasons that I have ever heard. An excellent and worthwhile buy!

Crystal clear recording of Bell, very high production value. Stylistically great too.

Once again I am blown away by Joshua Bell's talent. He is able to bring life, energy and passion to a 300 year piece. If you are already a fan of the Four Seasons then you will also appreciate the brillant harpsichord interpretations. The Devil's Trill is a great complement to the album. Throw away your old Vivaldi Four Seasons cds. This is the only one you will want to listen to.

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I really wanted to buy this, but listening to the sample, all I could hear was JB sniffing! Where do they stick the microphone on modern violin recordings?

A beautiful performance by the orchestral spoilt for me by the ego of the soloist. Undoubtably skilled and talented, but out of proportion, in my humble opinion.

We are listening with different ears so, opinions can be very different but here is mine. Myself as a classical musician, someone who has been desperately looking for “the most beautiful version” of Vivaldi ever-green opus, The Four Season. And I did really listened tons of records, over and over again. Undoubtedly this version with Joshua Bell and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields sounds absolutely remarkable and musical in every moment! The declamation is beautifully poetic, balance and synchron between soloist and orchestra ( accompaniment ). One of the most prominent record of all time. Incredible sensitive and musical every single moment of it, which is rare, even among the best studio recordings really. This one is a masterly done artistry, a signature record, worthy to the name of the great Italian composer, Antonio Vivaldi. The play of Joshua Bell is incredible, every perfectly executed technical details he made is part of the uttermost beauty of this masterpiece of the Italian genius, Maestro Vivaldi. If I could, would easily give 7 stars here. No question. Purest, most sublime musical joy really, at least for me it certainly is. 🙂

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