Antonio Vivaldi

His great piece "The four seasons" is famous in the part "Spring", but, since my modest opinion, the best is Winter", and afterwards "Autumn". I have seen a performance composed only for four violinists, WITHOUT ORQUETRA DIRECTOR.

Advantages everything
Disadvantages nothing

...Sergei V. Rachmaninov Adagio sostenuto (Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18) Max Bruch Adagio (Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26) John Williams Schindler's List Theme Erik Satie Gymnopedie No. 1 Antonio Vivaldi Largo (Le Quattro Stagioni L'inverno) Allegro (La primavera (Le Quattro Stagioni)) (Le Quattro Stagioni) Thomas Newman Any Other Name (from the film "American Beauty") James Horner My Heart Will Go On Georg Friedrich Handel Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah) Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV 258) Gregorio Allegri Miserere mei, Deus John Jenkins Agnus Dei Christoph Willibald Gluck J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (Orfeo ed Euridice) Charles Gounod, Johann Sebastian Bach Ave Maria Leo Delibes Dome epais (Lakme (1883)) Georges Bizet Au fond du temple... Read review

Advantages Superb strings, Vivacious virtuoso violin
Disadvantages None

...The Four Seasons Composer: Antonio Vivaldi Performers: Nigel Kennedy Members of the British Philharmonic Orchestra Label: Emi Classics Released: October 27th 2003 Price: £13.99 Availability: Most good record shops The Cover: Kennedy Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678, the son of a violinist. Vivaldi composed during the late Baroque period. He is an instrumentalist composer predominantly of Concertos writing a total of 500.The concerto is a musical form wherein a solo instrument is set against a larger group. More than half of Vivaldis concertos are for the solo violin. 1. Concerto For Two Violins, Strings & Continuo In A Minor, Op. 3 No.8 This Violin concerto was the eighth part of a set that Vivaldi published in 1712. He entitled the set L’Estro Armonico (Musical Fancy). The concertos were in written... Read review

Advantages I had a blast at each of these...
Disadvantages You may not like my choices:-(

...and finally Winter the four seasons lasts around 20 minutes and is a truly amazing work. This concert was performed by the Mozart Festival Orchestra in full 18th Century costume and by candlelight rather than stage lights. This was such an atmospheric concert that words cannot really do it justice. The concert consisted of the following works: Brandenburg Concerto No 3 – Johann Sebastian Bach Air on a G String – Johann Sebastian Bach Trumpet Suite – Jeremiah Clarke Trumpet Voluntary – John Stanley Canon in D Minor – Johann Pachelbel I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (from Messiah) George Frideric Handel Let The Bright Seraphim (from Samson) George Frideric Handel Concerto for Two trumpets – Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons – Antonio Vivaldi The Conductor was Ian Watson The Soloist (Violin) was David Juritz – who played his socks... Read review