This week we have mostly been listening to this CD. It is a unique interpretation of the classical staple Vivaldi 4 Seasons. I bought it a while back after hearing it on BBC Radio 3's In tune but had never played it to the kids. Well I put it on the CD player in the car on the way to swimming lessons, and they were hooked! The recorder playing of Piers Adams is unbelievably virtuosic and they have such fun with the music. To quote one review The Four Seasons were written as violin concertos. In Red Priest, the virtuoso violin parts are purloined by the crafty Adams, who leaves the pieces' foundation to his rhythm section of violinist Julia Bishop, cellist Angela East and harpsichordist Howard Beach. What a virtuoso Piers Adams is. Micala Petri was forever the reigning queen of recorder performance for many years. I suspect that a case could be made for her to still be if one restricts their consideration to “straight” interpretations of the baroque canon. But, my vote now goes to Piers Adams, who irreverently and intelligently, deconstructs these war horses and provides the listener and experience as fresh as a spring strawberry bursting on the roof of your mouth. The tempo is frantic, the cuckoos cuckoo, birds chirping, wind blowing, ice breaking. It is all here captured is graphic detail.You can see for yourself here.
