Terrific modern Vivaldi - Madamemusico is absolutely correct! This non-period-piece, non-original-instrument version is wonderful. I was on a hunt for original-instrument versions and this one came my way by mistake. I almost rejected it out of hand, but since the St Luke s Chamber Ensemble recording of the Bach Brandenburgs was so good I gave this one a listen. The Orchestra of St Luke s (a lot of the same people as the SLCE) plays with full-bodied sound and clear textures, so the lessons of early music performance practice are heeded. The violin soloist, however, is dynamite. It doesn t matter that it s not period authentic...this is great music making.
My favorite Four Seasons - Everyone has their own favorite peformance of this all-time classical chestnut. This is mine. Though it is not an original instrument performance (the best of those is the Trevor Pinnock recording on DG), the Orchestra of St. Luke s is small enough to create the proper ambience, and Salerno-Sonnenberg plays and conducts with absolute passion.I m not necessarily recommending this OVER the historically-informed versions, but give it a listen. I think you d have to be insensitive to the passion of this performance to not want it in your collection.