Customer Reviews:

• Barely Deserves 1 Star
  I think that this "interpertation" of Vivaldi's Four Seasons is a stupid experiment gone wrong. Her Inventions and "Improvisations" might be a nice idea, but to a real musician this recording is a mockery of good musicianship....more info
• Not my favorite recording of the 4 Seasons
  I am a violinist, and truthfully don't really like the way Vanessa plays the 4 seasons. Her tone is fine, but she just seams to be lacking in certain areas. It doesn't sound like the rich, beautiful 4 seasons I know. I relize that it is baroque and shouldn't sound TOO rich and sappy, but she should take more time with them, truley get to know the pieces instead of just playing through them. I would definitley prefir the standard 4 seasons the way Vivaldi wrote them, rather than Mae's version- with her out-of-place sounding artificial harmonics(which didn't sound so good tone-wise) and her strange sounding double stops and octaves. If you think Vanessa's 4 seasons sound "cool in a newer way", great- buy them. But if you truley have a trained classical ear, consider a different version of the 4 seasons. ...more info
• Somewhat different, but heard better
  Let me go on the record to say that Vanessa Mae does the violin crossover style extremely well. Her breakthrough album "Violin Player" remains one of my favourite albums. However this album of the purely classical "Original four seasons" somewhat lacking.

  It certainly is innovative, and she does put a different spin on this timeless piece of music. It also has it's good moments in the spring and summer sections. Unfortunately she fails compare to other classical violinists . The "Autumn" and "Winter" Sections are very weak. If there had been fusion versions of this work, then this album might have something to offer as part of another genre. But this is a classical album, and unfortunately doesn't compare to works by Perlman, Kennedy, Chang or Menuhin.

  It's not a bad album, but since this is a purely classical album, it should be compared to other classical albums. If you want a good 4 seasons album get Nigel Kennedy's version....more info

• Sloppy and vapid
  In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not truly sure that there is such a thing these days as a good recording of the Four Seasons (Original or otherwise --- I'm not sure what "Original" is supposed to mean here). Of the many warhorses to be found in the repertoire, it is (for me at least) one of the more annoying & shallow. Nonetheless, the gazillions of violinists who have recorded it have, for the most part, turned in performances that at least have a reasonable amount of energy to them. Such is not the case here.
  
  All of the concerti have a homogenized quality to them and are oftentimes quite lethargic. I didn't think one could make these pieces more bland, but Vanessa-Mae has proved me wrong. Apparently the only time of year the Seasons are supposed to capture are the Dog Days of Summer...humid & stagnant.
  
  Going from bad to worse, Vanessa-Mae then tackles Tartini. Unlike Vivaldi, Tartini actually did write interesting music & revolutionized the use of double stops, among other things. Sadly, Vanessa-Mae has no earthly idea of what she is trying to say as she plays this, and once again, the music just slogs along with a stultifying sameness. The odd arrangement of the continuo parts hardly helps.
  
  She would be well-advised to stick to the pre-fab crossover confections in which she has specialized, because this album demonstrates that she really doesn't have the chops for the challenges of the classical genre, even with relative lightweights like Vivaldi. Thus far, her forays into the classical world have been uninspiring, at best. Continue to rely on that which has made you wealthy, dear child. Stop trying to earn our respect, because you'll never get it with pablum like this....more info
• by far the best "classical" album
  This album has the slight variations of vivaldi's 4 seasons. the variation makes the songs sound a whole lot more "new" and the devil's trill sonata is also a very good song that blows you away. strongly recommended....more info
• Vanessa Mae; yes!
  Why this young lady isn't mentioned in the same sentence with Midori or others of that ilk I don't know. Could be her penchant for the unusal (think electric violin, jazzed-up classics, etc.)? Probably. But on this CD she plays it straight; close your eyes and think of Isaac Stern only much better looking. I think she's great, and this CD reinforces my opinion....more info
• cheeky and good
  It's interesting what other reviewers have to say about Vanessa Mae's Four Seasons album (EMI 1998). While the album averages a decent four stars rating, those who rate it badly are particularly virulent in their reviews: "Sloppy and vapid," "Barely deserves 1 star," "Childish, mischievous, ludicrous," "A chatty teenage girl's Vivaldi."
  
  I have to say I like it. I don't care much for Vanessa Mae's other works; She can take her bongo drums and electric violin to some Yanni concert, marry that pseudo-pianist Maksim and have cross-over-children for all I care. But Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is one of my all-time favorite works--I never fail to get high listening to it; it's always an intense listening experience for me. I would think that, given the mastery of the composition--Vivaldi's trademark joie de vivre, his soaring, intricate passages--one should leave well enough alone. But Mae's version of The Four Seasons lends a new perspective on the well-loved work. I can take her improvisations, even if she cheekily titles them the "Original" Four Seasons. I see no harm in rearranging a classic if only to disabuse the familiar.
  
  But I can understand the hate. I once lent the album to a friend who had majored in music in collection; she returned it in a huff. I don't like it, she said dismissively. Actually, very emphatically, I remember. I guess for some musicians, Mae's fiddling with the original score amounts to sacrilege, like adding make-up to the Mona Lisa. ...more info