Review: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons - Bakieva, Savall (2024)

This recording by Les Musiciennes Du Concert Des Nations, led by Jordi Savall, features violinist Alfia Bakieva as soloist. It brings together a group of female musicians from Le Concert des Nations with talented young women from professional development academies of Savall’s CIMA Foundation. This initiative echoes Vivaldi’s mentorship of promising female musicians at the 18th-century Venetian Ospedale della Pietà.

Buy on Amazon

The 2-CD set offers two renditions of The Four Seasons. The first incorporates four evocative sonnets, likely written by Vivaldi, recited by actress Olivia Manescalchi. Though their exact date is unknown, these sonnets weren’t included in the 1725 publication. It’s believed Vivaldi added them later, perhaps to enhance the concertos’ appeal for a familiar patron. While not intended for performance narration, they served as a guide for both listener and performer to grasp Vivaldi’s musical imagery. Manescalchi, in a choice that may disrupt some listeners, occasionally speaks over the music to highlight specific effects.

The second CD presents a pure listening experience of the Four Seasons. Les Musiciennes Du Concert Des Nations, under Savall’s direction, consistently avoids the overly polished sound favored by some period-instrument groups. This doesn’t diminish their skill, but reflects Savall’s sonic philosophy. Here, the strings are less piercing and Bakieva, as soloist, more subtle than in other interpretations. Listeners seeking the high drama of Biondi or Carmignola’s perfectionism won’t find it here. This, however, exposes the potentially unnatural production of other “authentic” groups, whose recordings often sound unnaturally loud and close-mic’d compared to the sound of period instruments in live performance.

However, the ear quickly adjusts to Savall’s world, appreciating the distinct characterization of each season and movement. The ensemble beautifully mimics birdsong in Spring’s first movement, while Bakieva infuses Summer’s opening movement with particular emotion. The group’s subtle dance-like touches add a delightful vibrancy. Listening to all four concertos (and added concertos) in one sitting is a cohesive and intriguing experience, sure to please fans of Savall’s previous work.