This playlist accompanies our recent feature on Dr Hannah French’s latest book, ‘The Rolling Year: Listening to the Seasons with Vivaldi’. It takes the listener through depictions of spring, summer, autumn and winter in turn, with music from Vivaldi’s famous set of concerti, along with works by other composers.

Discover lesser-known cycles of the seasons by composers Giovanni Guido, Christopher Simpson and James Oswald, hear Haydn's oratorio on the same subject, and enjoy works portraying individual seasons by Purcell, Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann among others.

Listen on Spotify.

TRACK LIST

1–3. Vivaldi The Four Seasons – Concerto No. 1 in E, RV 269 ‘Spring’: I. Allegro; II. Largo; III. Allegro | Kati Debretzeni, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
4. Simpson The Four Seasons (Four Fantasia-Suites), ‘Spring’: I. Fantasia | Les Voix Humaines: Réjean Poirier, Jay Bernfield, Mike Fentross
5–6. Guido Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno, Op. 3: ‘Le printemps’: I: Le temps vole; II. Chaque saison s’enfuit Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Versailles, Andrés Gabetta
7. Haydn The Seasons, Hob. XXI 3 ‘Spring’: No. 2 Chorus: ‘Come, gentle Spring!’ | Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Ben Palmer
8. Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 ‘Spring’: II. Adagio molto espressivo | Rachel Podger, Christopher Glynn
9. Mendelssohn Lieder ohne Worte, Book 5, No. 6: Frühlingslied (Allegro grazioso) | Ronald Brautigam
10. Schumann Symphony No. 1 in B flat, Op. 38 ‘Spring’: IV. Allegro animato e grazioso | Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner
11. Guido Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno, Op. 3: ‘Le printemps’: V. Air de trompette | Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Versailles, Andrés Gabetta
12–14. Oswald Airs for the Seasons – Spring: ‘Ranunculus’: I. Moderato; II. Allegro – Andante; III. Tempo di minuetto | Rezonance Baroque Ensemble
15. Lully Pavane des saisons | Andrew Lawrence-King
16. Simpson The Four Seasons (Four Fantasia-Suites), Summer: I. Fantasia | Les Voix Humaines: Réjean Poirier, Jay Bernfield & Mike Fentross
17. Schubert Die Sommernacht, D289 | Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
18–20. Vivaldi The Four Seasons – Concerto No. 2 in G minor, RV 269, ‘L’estate’: I: Allegro non molto – Allegro; II. Adagio – Presto; III. Presto | Adrian Chandler, La Serenissima
21–22. Guido Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno, Op. 3: ‘L’este’: XII. L'amant respectueux; XIII. Un violent orage | Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Versailles, Andrés Gabetta
23. Haydn The Seasons, Hob. XXI 3 ‘Summer’: No. 15 Aria ‘How refreshing to the senses’ (Aria) | Carolyn Sampson, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Ben Palmer
24–26. Oswald Airs for the Seasons – Summer: ‘Pink’: I. Moderato affettuoso; II. Adagio; III. Tempo di minuetto | Rezonance Baroque Ensemble
27–29. Vivaldi The Four Seasons – Concerto No. 3 in F, RV 269, ‘L’autunno’: III. Allegro | Kati Debretzeni, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
30. Simpson The Four Seasons (Four Fantasia-Suites), Autumne: I. Fantasia | Les Voix Humaines: Réjean Poirier, Jay Bernfield & Mike Fentross
31. Purcell The Fairy Queen, Z629, Act IV: Song ‘See my many colour’d fields’ | Mark Padmore, London Classical Players, Sir Roger Norrington
32. Lully Ballet des saisons, LWV 15: Ritournelle de Fontainbleu | Christophe Rousset
33. Haydn The Seasons, Hob. XXI 3 ‘Autumn’: No. 25 Chorus: ‘Hark, hear the sounds of the chase’ | Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Ben Palmer
34–35. Oswald Airs for the Seasons – Autumn: ‘Daisy’: I. Allegro (Non presto); II: Giga: Vivace | Rezonance Baroque Ensemble
36. Schubert Herbst, D945 | Christoph Prégardien, Andreas Staier
37. Rösler Herbstlied | Claron McFadden, Bart van Oort
38. Guido Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno, Op. 3: ‘L’Automne’: I. Célèbrons le retour de l'automne | Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Versailles, Andrés Gabetta
39. Purcell The Fairy Queen, Act IV: Aria ‘Now winter comes slowly’ | David Wilson-Johnson, London Classical Players, Sir Roger Norrington
40. Simpson The Four Seasons (Four Fantasia-Suites), Winter: I. Fantasia | Les Voix Humaines: Réjean Poirier, Jay Bernfield & Mike Fentross
41–43. Oswald Airs for the Seasons – Winter: ‘Persian Iris’: I. Pomposo: Con spirito; II: Laergo amoroso; III: Marche: Con spirito | Rezonance Baroque Ensemble
44. Schubert Der Winterabend, D938 | Werner Güra, Christoph Berner
45. Haydn The Seasons, Hob. XXI 3 ‘Winter’: No. 38 Chorus with soloists: ‘Then dawns that morn so glorious’ | Carolyn Sampson, Jeremy Owenden, Andrew Foster-Williams, Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh, Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra, Ben Palmer
46–47. Guido Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno, Op. 3: ‘L’hyver’: I. La saison de frimats; II. Le cruel Aquilon nous declare la guerre | Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal, Versailles, Andrés Gabetta
48–50. Vivaldi The Four Seasons – Concerto No. 4 in F minor, RV 269, ‘L’inverno’: I. Allegro; II. Largo; III. Allegro | Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque