Esoteric Seasons Forma Antiqva meets Vivaldi - heard by HOWARD SMITH '... an 'off-the-wall' take on Le quattro stagioni ...'

Vivaldi, who was born during an earthquake, created four programmatic works, each in three movements, corresponding with the Vivaldi (eighteenth century) / Kotowich (20-21st century) poems.

Yet not since Nigel Kennedy (controversially) revitalised Vivaldi's seasons for EMI Classics (CD56253, 1989) have we had such an 'off-the-wall' take on Le quattro stagioni, a third part of twelve concerti, Vivaldi's Op 8, titled Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ('The trial of harmony and invention').

Though Kennedy was 'lauded to the skies', EMI's best seller seemed inordinately 'tacky' beside one of the acknowledged front runners, Pina Carmirelli with I Musici on Philips (CD 410001, ADD, 1982).

Timothy Kotowich is best known for successive roles in recording management...

ANTONIO VIVALDI

FOUR SEASONS

URI CAINE

WINTER AND WINTER

ITALY