Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons) (LP)

Although there is by no means a shortage of recordings of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Sigiswald Kuijken's recording presents a radically new take on the well-known piece - and does so within the framework of historical performance practice. Kuijken's version differs from all previous ones in two respects: First, the music is performed here in chamber music formation, i.e. no part is doubled, and second, the part of the violoncello is taken over by a violoncello da spalla (shoulder cello), which, among other things, has a positive effect on the balance between bass and upper voice.