Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Sir Neville Marriner & Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

• 1 1. Allegro 03:11
• 2 2. Largo 03:30
• 3 3. Allegro (Danza pastorale) 04:39
• 4 1. Allegro non molto - Allegro 05:50
• 5 2. Adagio - Presto - Adagio 02:36
• 6 3. Presto (Tempo impetuoso d'estate) 02:53
• 7 1. Allegro (Ballo, e canto de' villanelli) 05:00
• 8 2. Adagio molto (Ubriachi dormienti) 02:55
• 9 3. Allegro (La caccia) 03:29
• 10 1. Allegro non molto 03:18
• 11 2. Largo 02:19
• 12 3. Allegro 03:03
• 13 1. Largo - Allegro 03:39
• 14 2. Largo 02:31
• 15 3. Allegro molto 02:54
• 16 1. Allegro (ma molto moderato) 04:37
• 17 2. Larghetto 03:52
• 18 3. Allegro 03:12
• 19 1. Allegro 03:54
• 20 2. Largo 03:48
• 21 3. Allegro molto 03:10
• Total Runtime 01:14:20

Info for Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Of all of Antonio Vivaldi's compositions, 'The Four Seasons' are arguably his most popular, with the most recordings to prove it. With such a plethora of recordings, it's difficult for just any orchestra to prepare a worthy offering for the crowded market. Luckily, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields is not just any orchestra.

Violinist Neville Marriner leads the Academy in a performance that breathes new life into the famous 'Seasons', creating sharper contrasts and tighter rhythms in places where it had never occurred to his predecessors. Marriner's crisp solos, which move at record-breaking speed, set the pace for the rest of the violins. And even in the Allegros, they comply with a level of precision that would leave most violin sections in the dust.

The second half of the album features three of Vivaldi's wind concertos, which are presented in a way similar to 'The Four Seasons' in terms of structure and stylistic ideas. The addition of these three concertos proves that even though Vivaldi was a trained violinist, he could write well for other instruments. It's also another way to set this recording apart from others as more than just a run-of-the-mill 'Four Seasons' album.

William Bennett, Flute & Piccolo
Simon Preston, Organ & Harpsichord
Alan Loveday, Violin
Celia Nicklin, Oboe
Neil Black, Oboe
Kenneth Heath, Oboe
Martin Gatt, Bassoon
Christopher Hogwood, Keyboard
Colin Tilney, Keyboard
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner, Conductor

96kHz, 24-bit Super Digital Transfer

William Bennett - Flute
One of the foremost musical artists performing today, William Bennett has raised the profile of the flute to that of an instrument capable of a wide range of tonal colours, dynamics, and expression, giving it the depth, dignity, and grandeur of the voice or a string instrument.

He studied in London with Geoffrey Gilbert, and in France with Jean-Pierre Rampal and Marcel Moyse. He has been principal flute in many orchestras including the London Symphony, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra.

The Master classes of Marcel Moyse in Switzerland in the late 70's provided extra stimulus and inspiration so that, in tandem with William Bennett's burgeoning career developed as an International soloist and recording artist Partnerships with Clifford Benson (piano) and George Malcolm (harpsichord) and solo recordings mth Yehudi Menuhin, the Grumiaux Trio, I Musici, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra have received international acclaim and enthusiastic reviews in record and CD journals.

Early in his career he made the first English recording of the complete Handel Flute Sonatas, and of contemporary works including the Sonatine of Boulez, Berio's Sequenza, Messaien's Merle Noir, and Richard Rodney Bennett's "Winter Music" (written for him).

In addition to recording the standard flute repertoire of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, etc., he has made pioneer recordings of many neglected 19th century works, such as music by Ries, Romberg, and Taffanel. He has recorded with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Wynton Marsalis. He has made over 90 CD's as a soloist.

Recently he premiered the Concerto by William Mathias, the Concerto by Diana Burrell and the Concerto for Flute and Flute Orchestra by Venezuelan composer Raymund Pineda. All of these were specially written for him.

This year his Concert engagement take him to U.S.A (February, May, June), Switzerland, Japan, Venezuela.China/Taiwan etc. and he is going to record several contemporary Flute Concertos with English Chamber Orchestra and two CDs.

In January 1995 H.M. The Queen presented William Bennett with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) for his distinguished Services to Music.

In 2002 he was awarded the National Flute Association's "Lifetime Achievement Award" and in 2003 he was appointed the British Flute Society's "Flautist Laureate". In 2004 he was awarded the title of " Flute of Gold" from the Italian "Falaut" Flute society. In 2009 he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Chicago Flute Club.

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Academy of St Martin in the Fields has an enthusiasm for fresh, brilliant interpretation of the world’s most loved classical music.

We are not reliant on any one venue. We travel the world to bring our vivid sound to a small music festival in Teignmouth, Devon, England, as well as to a huge concert hall in Tokyo, Japan. Our music is equally loved in New York and Nuremberg. Whilst our heritage and roots are in the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, our mission is to bring our unique interpretation of classical music to all parts of London, all parts of Britain, indeed all parts of the World.

We are known for our polished and refined sound, with performances rooted in outstanding musicianship. And whilst our focus is the Classical era, we are never afraid to perform something completely new. Our founder is Sir Neville Marriner, whose vision and inspiration have kept the Academy sound alive. Today we are led artistically by our Music Director, and the membership of the orchestra who create an annual programme of inspirational and inventive performances. Each year we also work with some of the world’s most talented soloists and directors. We re-invent ourselves from a large chamber orchestra to a small chamber group, so that we can display the music at its very best.

We also have a responsibility to the future. So we spend time with young musicians, in schools, in music colleges and with people who are less privileged because we truly believe our music can make a difference to their lives. We enjoy our work and want to enthuse our audiences, re-pay our supporters and partner our sponsors.

Sir Neville Marriner - Conductor
Sir Neville Marriner, the most prolific classical music recording artist in the world, began his professional life as a violinist, first in a string quartet and trio, then in the London Symphony Orchestra, during which the founded the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in 1959.

He left the London Symphony Orchestra in 1969 and founded the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, at the same time extending the repertoire of the Academy, and guest conducting symphony orchestras around the world. He served as Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Sudwest Deutsche Rundfunk Orchestra in Stuttgart. He was music director and conductor of the motion picture ‘Amadeus.’ He made his opera debut conducting Le nozze di Figaro at the Aix-en-Provence Festival; his US opera debut was in Los Angeles with La Cenerentola. There then followed a Salzburg Mozarteum televised production of Il re pastore. He also had a long-standing relationship with the Opera de Lyon.

Sir Neville tours regularly with the Academy to the Far East, South America, as well as Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. He has twice been honored for services to music in his own country and in Germany, France and Sweden, and holds many honorary degrees in America, the Far East, and at home.

This album contains no booklet.