Another clever repackaging from Universal Classics. The CD here is the most venerable, having been recorded in l965. The sound is OK but it’s surprising the same AMSI-II Ambient Sound Imaging processing was not used on the original stereo tracks (as it has been on some other Universal Classic reissues) for the CD as it was for the remixed soundtrack of the DVD. The selections are less hackneyed Vivaldi and provide a welcome contrast to the overdone Four Seasons.
The DVD was filmed in Venice in 1988 by Anton van Munster and is just 4:3 aspect ratio, but with many evocative shots of Venice, with I Musici performing both indoors and out with Venetian scenes in the background. Some quick title displays showing which of the Four Seasons we are hearing would be nice, but are not provided. There is also no indication on the two discs as to which one is the DVD and which the CD – I was wondering what the problem was with my DVD player when nothing would appear on the screen! It’s obvious the musicians are just miming their performance to an already-recorded soundtrack. Keyboardist Maria Teresa Garatti plays a clavi-organum, which combines the sounds of the harpsichord and a small organ.
– John Sunier
