This is a splendid set, valid for a lifetime of pleasure.
Little differences in attention to detail soon begin to show, first at 0'17"of the first movement of 'Spring', where the chords that are usually hit hard are here given a happy little squeeze.
Amsterdam Baroque (consisting here of 13 instrumentalists) play with the unanimity of one mind and body, with extreme changes of volume that never sound theatrically contrived, as concerned with the fate of every note as with the shaping of each phrase. Manze's bow breathes vocal life into his strings; in the slow movements many notes whisper their way into being, and his fortissimo whiplashes have rasp-free edges. There are many delightful little personal touches – his slurred resolution of the sighing appoggiatura at 2'50" in the third movement of 'Spring', and the way he nudges his way up the ladder of trills in the first movement of 'Autumn' are just two.
The remaining works come from Op 7, in the first of which (RV465) the oboe is the soloist; its transcribed role in No 5 (RV285a) accords with Baroque practice. Both are charming works with a high level of inspiration.