Vivaldi - The Four Seasons [Chung-Saint Luke's Chamber Ensemble]The South Korean Violinist Kyung Wha Chung hasn't been active of late, she has been out of action for five years because of a finger/hand injury, and is only just coming back to performing, this was one of her last recordings [in 2000], she's now 62 years old.
Saint Luke's Chamber Ensemble is a small group of 15 musicians, but they make a nice big sound, really ideal for Vivaldi, and Kyung Wha Chung directs from the violin.
The booklet cover is great too, a nice shot of Kyung Wha by Sheila Rock, in pastoral autumn colours.
I so much enjoyed the final movements of Summer and Autumn, the finale of summer is a virtuoso tour de force, really thrilling, angry at one point, and exuberant the next, representing the powerful force of thunder and lightning, you need to bow at such an incredible speed, it's also thrilling to watch too.
Here's an interview she did on YouTube, where she talks about this recording, and her inspiration, the music playing is mainly the final movement of Summer.
Also another video on YouTube, where she's performing the Summer Concerto with a chamber group, the way she dances around is so exciting, she's so happy.
