Internationally renowned violinist and conductor Riccardo Minasi and the Orchestra La Scintilla, based at Opernhaus Zürich, enjoy a close working relationship. Together with the ensemble's superb musicians, who specialize in historically informed performance, Minasi has recorded two very different compositions, both entitled "Vier Jahreszeiten" ("Four Seasons"), for Philharmonia Records. In addition to the four famous concerti by Antonio Vivaldi, in which Minasi proves himself to be a brilliant soloist, the recording features ballet music by Giuseppe Verdi, written 125 years later. This pairing gives the ensemble the opportunity to showcase both the breadth of it's repertoire and it's considerable flexibility. Verdi on period instruments: a completely new aural experience!