With the sheer glut of recordings of
Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons on the market, it takes some special approach to make yet another recording of this chestnut seem interesting and palatable. Because Sigiswald Kuijken and his cohorts,
La Petite Bande, understand this enormous problem, they have resorted to two innovative ideas: first, to perform the four concertos in a streamlined chamber version that requires only three violins, viola, cello, and harpsichord; and second, to introduce the antique violoncello da spalla (shoulder cello) in their performances, mostly for the novelty of its reedy tone and for its possible historical usage in these particular pieces. Included on this 2007 release from Accent are also the Cello Concerto in D major, RV 403, and the Trio Sonata in D minor, "La Follia," RV 63, which frame the program neatly and give the listener something extra to consider in choosing this CD over others. But the Four Seasons are the selling point, and the performances are glossy in tone, lithe in line, lean in ensemble, and rhythmically buoyant -- all factors that give this music more freshness and vitality than one might expect. But the impression Kuijken wishes to create is only commensurate with the listener's familiarity with this work: newcomers will be charmed by the period sound and the engaging renditions, but anyone who feels the music is overexposed will find the changes mildly interesting but far from transformational. The Four Seasons in chamber guise might be appreciated for its transparency and lighter feeling, but Accent's reproduction is boosted and quite loud, so
La Petite Bande sounds almost orchestral in its loudest passages anyway, and the advantages of pairing down the ensemble seem minimal.