VIVALDI: “THE FOUR SEASONS”: James Galway, flute...

VIVALDI: “THE FOUR SEASONS”: James Galway, flute and conducting the Zagreb Soloists. RCA Red Seal CD RCD1-2284. There are already 13 compact disc versions of Vivaldi’s popular violin concertos, Opus 8, Nos. 1-4. But Galway’s virtuoso version in which the flute is substituted for the solo violin, recorded in 1976, is one of the most delightful romps through spring, summer, autumn and winter. Galway’s performance is so confident and detailed that he almost makes us believe it was written for the flute in the first place. The CD sound is stunning even if it does give the flute more of the stage than any solo instrument deserves.