‘Robert King’s direction is very fine, with some nicely judged phrasing from his excellent orchestra. Buy this, and you too will be impatient to hear volumes one to eight’ (Early Music)

'The leading period-instrument ensemble, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, has never before recorded Vivaldi 's evergreen The Four Seasons. The OAE's leader—Transylvanian-born violinist Kati Debretzeni—has often played and directed the work live, to great critical acclaim. The Independent commented that she 'may rival Nigel Kennedy in both showmanship and virtuosity.' Particularly, this version of the work accompanied performances in which the OAE fused authentic performance with contemporary choreography. Debretzeni sets out to highlight the descriptive aspect of the music by finding many more colours and contrasts in the orchestral texture than are usually heard, and the period instruments give the familiar movements a new attack, making the work sound as fresh today as the day it was written' (Classic FM)

'So many recording of The Four Seasons tend to play the notes, often with little regard to the descriptive painting of the text in the music. In this excellent recording not only is the music so vividly portrayed by the players (soloist and OAE alike) that the text is almost implied, but the booklet supplements this by providing the sonnets (in both Italian and English translation). It also gives the timings in the recording of the letters that the composer gives in the score, enabling the listener to follow precisely every line of the poems represented in the music. Kati Debretzeni's playing is both technically impressive and imaginative. I enjoyed her subtly ornamented lines and the tasteful rubato, which always added a subtle point of repose in the music. This is probably one of the noteworthy period-instrument 'Seasons' recordings' (Early Music Review)

‘Philippe Graffin brings some Menuhin-like touches to his playing’ (Classical Source)

‘Fine, colourful and lyrical playing by Graffin, who contrasts effectively passages of serious intensity with moments of lighter character and repose’ (The Strad)

‘[Walter’s] sonata, tackled with relish by Graffin, from the turbulent first two movements to the resolution of the third. Goldmark’s suite is a delightful set of pieces (you will be smitten with the playful middle section). Full marks to Hyperion’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘These are sumptuously responsive performances, glowingly recorded and expertly annotated’ (International Record Review)

‘This superb Hyperion disc will have great appeal both for the general collector and the Walton specialist’ (MusicWeb International)

«Cette formation peut s’enorgueillir d’un nouveau fleuron indispendsable» (Répertoire, France)

‘Everything is performed with The Nash Ensemble’s expected care and understanding’ (The Irish Times)

‘A first-class account and beautifully recorded … this is a recommendable issue’ (International Record Review)

‘Finely played … [an] excellent Hyperion issue’ (Gramophone)