The Four Seasons are without question among the most famous compositions in Vivaldi’s oeuvre – perhaps even in all Baroque music. They comprise four concertos for violin, strings and bass continuo to which Vivaldi himself gave the programmatic titles “Spring”, “Summer”, “Autumn” and “Winter”. Each is preceded by a poem that presents the mood and scene of the season, which Vivaldi then depicts brilliantly in music – from thunder and lightning to birdsong and even a barking dog …

This Henle Urt...