Ehnes, Armstrong, Sydney Symphony - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (2015)

James Ehnes takes a break from the 19th and 20th century repertoire and has recorded for the first time in his career four of the most famous baroque violin concertos – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the first four works in his set of 12, Op. 8. James also directs the Sydney Symphony. Vivaldi provided his own sonnets as prefaces to each of the concertos and these are available from the Onyx website. The Vivaldi is prefaced by two famous violin sonatas – Tartini’s 'Devils Trill' in the skilful arrangement by Fritz Kreisler which is very faithful to the original text, to which Kreisler adds the famous cadenza in the finale.

Leclair, one the few composers to have been murdered, was known as ‘The French Corelli’. Of his Op. 9 set of 12 sonatas for violin, the third has become the most popular for its ‘Tambourin’ finale, depicting a pipe-and-drum dance with drone effects - all good fun!

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Tartini, Jean-Marie Leclair
Performer: James Ehnes
Conductor: Andrew Armstrong
Orchestra/Ensemble: Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Tracklist:

1. I. Larghetto - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
2. II. Allegro Energico - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
3. III. Grave - Allegro Assai - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
4. I. Un Poco Andante - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
5. II. Allegro - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
6. III. Sarabanda: Largo - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
7. IV. Presto - James Ehnes/Andrew Armstrong
8. I. Allegro - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
9. II. Largo E Pianissimo Sempre - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
10. III. Danza Pastoral: Allegro - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
11. I. Allegro Non Molto - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
12. II. Adagio - Presto - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
13. III. Presto - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
14. I. Allegro - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
15. II. Adagio Molto - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
16. III. Allegro - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
17. I. Allegro Con Molto - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
18. II. Largo - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra
19. III. Allegro - James Ehnes/Sydney Symphony Orchestra