The Four Seasons

jintan · Post by **jintan** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 9:07 am

I conclude that Vanessa-mae's interpretation/version of Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Season is the best of the many I have heard. Besides her, who do you think has a good recording of this work?

Arioch · Post by **Arioch** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 5:28 pm

Hi jintan

I think that Nigel Kennedy's interpretation of Vivaldi's the Four seasons is excellent.
With his rugged style of playing creates some real moody atmosphere to this wonderful piece of music.

But Vanessa is better.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 6:30 pm

Xanthippe · Post by **Xanthippe** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 7:09 pm

There are several excellent and interesting versions of the 'Four Seasons' besides Vanessa-Mae's interpretation.

Very good are Nigel Kennedy's and Anne Sophie Mutter's versions. Although I am not a very pleased by Mutter's way of playing, she is an excellently skilled violinist.

I find Vanessa-Mae's interpretation the best for several reasons.

Vanessa-Mae restructured and embelished this piece in such a way that sounds almost like modern music of today. This makes our girls version unique and unprecedented. This is really a remarkable achievement, since the 'Four Seasons' are among the most popular classical pieces which are performed regularly world wide.

Vanessa-Mae's modern interpretation appeals to me very much and certainly more than a more baroque approach of so many others.

Moreover, Vanessa-Mae plays this piece exceptionally well. She made a very good and balanced recording.

And finally, I have seen Vanessa-Mae perform it live in Hamburg 1999, and I was very much impressed by her play. She really meets to the high standards of quality as suggested on her recordings.

Arioch · Post by **Arioch** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 7:32 pm

I would loved to have seen Vanessa perform the Four seasons Live! thats so

Once again Rijko you've made me jealous.

Xanthippe · Post by **Xanthippe** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:00 pm

Arioch,

Besides playing very impressively, Vanessa-Mae was impressive herself.

I was seated almost in fornt, 3rd row, in the mddle before the stage. Vanessa-Mae stood right in front of me!!

She had that same gorgeous blue silvery long dress as seen in the 'Original Four Season' tour brochure. Also lots of heavy make-up as on the front photo of the cd booklet, although less blue on her eyes but the same complexion lips and blush.

She was great!

Arioch · Post by **Arioch** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:23 pm

Cheers Rijko, Rub it in

Xanthippe · Post by **Xanthippe** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:38 pm

Sorry Arioch,

I preserve so many good memories of this cocnert. It was a wonderful evening.

I really hope that you and all others in htis forum wil be able to see Vanessa-Mae on her next tour of concerts. For myself, I will certainly attend one of her next concerts.

I hope to see more posts in this topic with opinions on Vanessa-Mae's interpretation of the Four Seasons.

gaven · Post by **gaven** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 7:54 am

I would love to see Vanessa mae perform.

I wonder if she will ever come to Australia.

Where dose one find out her tour itinery.

Street_Rat · Post by **Street_Rat** » Mon Feb 10, 2003 9:01 am

i second that gaven. it would be incredible to see her perform live down here in Aus

.

Alberto B. · Post by **Alberto B.** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 12:29 am

She had that same gorgeous blue silvery long dress as seen in the 'Original Four Season' tour brochure. Also lots of heavy make-up as on the front photo of the cd booklet, although less blue on her eyes but the same complexion lips and blush.

rrrgggrrrrrr :p :laugh:

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Tue Feb 11, 2003 5:19 am

In response to the main topic. I do like Vanessas interpretation. I rate her version 2nd in my list. First on my list is a recording that i heard once. It was done on authentic instruments. Similar to vanessas with Baroque improvisation etc... However their version had much more creativity.

As far as The Nig's recording. I hate it. I dont understand why some people actually enjoy listening to his. Its not true to the time, it relates barely to the poems or to the opera.

I also like Mutters recording. of course

jintan · Post by **jintan** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 11:13 am

Kelvin, would you like to share the name of the artist who did that recording?
I have listened to many variations, and am curious to know what fans in this forum think of Vanessa-mae's interpretation vis-a-vis others who had done this same piece. I must add that the quality of her recording is not too good (was it EMI's fault?). If you listen to Winter(2) and Summer(1) found in 'The best of Vanessa-mae' and compare them with similar tracks in her 'The Original Four Seasons', you will understand what I meant.

Xanthippe · Post by **Xanthippe** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 3:04 pm

I consider the quality of the 'Original Four Seasons' recording of Vanessa-Mae very good. It is nicely blend and well balanced.

In my opinion, a recording does not need to be perfect. No honest recording can be absolutely perfect. A perfect recording means that any impurities and defects have been repaired in an artificcial way. In general, this doesn't add anything positive to mood and emotions conveyed by the music on the recording. Perfect recordings miss expression and emotion.

As for Vanessa-Mae's version of the Four Seasons. I think she really added something with her interpretation to the existing catalogue. Vanessa-Mae's interpretation is fresh, honest, modern and it breathes the joy and pleasure that the musicians had during the preparations and the actual recording. Vanessa-Mae restructured and embellished the baroque nature of Vivaldi's original music into a modern and adventurous experience. No one dared to do that before her and it makes her interpretation unique and unprecedented.

Of course there are many other excellent recordings of the Four Seasons. I also like the recordings of Nigel Kennedy, Kyung Wha Chung and to some extent Anne-Sophy Mutter's as well. Although Mutter's is an excpetionally skilled violinist, her style of playing is often too emphatic in my opinion, which make her recordings a little too pushy. At least that is how I experience listening to Mutter's play.

You can argue against Vanessa-Mae's approach that it is not in line with the composers intentions, but I think that this is allowed and that she deserves credit for her creativity.

Arioch · Post by **Arioch** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 4:16 pm

No One alive this day could possibly know how this piece should be played?
It is after all 278yrs old.
No Original recordings by Vivaldi are available at the moment!

Every Person who is lucky enough to be able to play this piece. He/She, Old or young is different to the next person.
They all have their own method and style of playing, they all have their own way of interpreting the music, and the feel of the music whever it be Vanessa-Mae, Nigel Kennedy or Vivaldi himself.

I love Vanessa's interpretation, she plays a nice gentle and relaxing mood, She makes it pleasurable.

I love Nigels, he puts so much mood into his interpetation almost a Stormy, rough and vigorous feel.

Who are we to criticise any person for their style and way they interpet a piece of music.
Has far as i'm concerned, they are all bl**dy clever!

PLEASE NOTE:
***********
That this post is not aimed at any one in particular!
This post is just conveying my thoughts towards this wonderful piece of music, whoever the performing artist is?