When I reviewed the set of Vivaldi's Op. 8 Concertos from which this performance of The Four Seasons is taken, I was enthusiastic but with reservations. Each concerto is given to a different soloist and that in itself makes for considerable interest; but it also means that almost inevitably some concertos come off better than others. In general, however, the solo violin playing is of a high order. What I enjoy most about this set, though, is the imaginative and varied handling of the continuo, which includes a baroque guitar and an archlute. In my original review I commented on the overweightiness of the bass response in the recording. It is not that there are too many players, but rather that at times I felt the cellos and violone were being given too much prominence. The CD heightens that impression, though I find it, in fact, less of an irritant than on the LP. The reason, I think, is an overall improvement in textural clarity over the latter. The sound of the CD is extremely good and whether you opt for this one or for The English Concert version on Archiv Produktion is a matter of taste. Both versions have already been discussed fully in the original reviews.'