The best of Vivaldi

Vivaldi, Antonio

The 4 Seasons: Violin Concerto in E major, Op. 8, No. 1, RV 269, "La primavera" (Spring): I. Allegro
1. The Four Seasons, RV 269: "Spring": Allegro 00:03:34

2. Concerto in G major for Two Guitars: Andante 00:03:42

Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428, "Il gardellino": II. Largo cantabile
3. Allegro 00:03:46 
4. Cantabile 00:03:04 
5. Allegro 00:02:56

6. The Four Seasons, "Spring": Largo e pianissimo sempre 00:02:42

Oboe Concerto in A minor, RV 461
7. Allegro non molto 00:03:13 
8. Larghetto 00:02:20 
9. (Allegro) 00:03:06

10. The Four Seasons, "Summer": Largo e pianissimo sempre 00:02:38

Concerto in C major for Two Trumpets, RV 537
11. Allegro 00:02:57 
12. Largo 00:00:51 
13. Allegro 00:03:13

14. The 4 Seasons: Violin Concerto in F major, Op. 8, No. 3, RV 293, "L'autunno" (Autumn): II. Adagio molto 00:02:49

Cello Concerto in C minor, RV 401
15. Allegro non molto 00:04:37 
16. Adagio 00:02:18 
17. Allegro ma non molto 00:03:25

18. The 4 Seasons: Violin Concerto in F minor, Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297, "L'inverno" (Winter): II. Largo 00:02:24

Flautino Concerto in C major, RV 443
19. Allegro 00:03:33 
20. Largo 00:04:05 
21. Allegro molto 00:02:47

22. Violin Concerto in A minor: Largo 00:02:35

Bassoon Concerto in E minor, RV 484
23. Allegro poco 00:04:11
24. Andante 00:03:34 
25. Allegro 00:03:00

Total Playing Time: 01:17:20

For most people the best of Vivaldi would be The Four Seasons, The Four Seasons and The Four Seasons again. But on the back of that work the concert halls are again wakening up to the joys of music from that machine called Antonio Vivaldi.

With over 500 concertos to his credit, 50 operas and countless works for solo instruments, just where do you start with a disc called 'The Best Of'. Well we thought we might as well start with the Four Seasons as this has been our top selling disc ever since it was first issued. But we have split it up, movements punctuating the disc, to make it that little bit different. And then what more could we do but give a cross-section of his orchestral music.

The critics have certainly loved our Vivaldi discs. BBC Music Magazine wrote about our Cello Concertos: "One marvels that Naxos can offer so much for so little". Of that famous Four Seasons, the American Record Guide says "As good as any I've heard".

The remainder of the disc comes from our still growing 'Vivaldi Collection', the ultimate aim is to make all the orchestral works available on disc for the first time. Only Naxos could dream up such a project.