In celebration of the 25th anniversary of virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy’s landmark recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, this 25th Anniversary Special Edition includes the original ground-breaking recording, award winning film, images and memorabilia and a specially written account of the unfolding event.

Nigel Kennedy’s recording was released on 25th September 1989 on vinyl, cassette and CD, and went on to become one of the best-selling classical albums of all-time. Originally recorded in November 1986 in the Church of St John-at-Hackney, London, it was a recording that would achieve unprecedented public and media attention and change the course of music history.

Vivaldi’s work, 12 movements in short three-minute bursts, was tailor-made for commercial radio. It was the first time that commercial pop marketing techniques had been used in the classical world and the first time that Nigel was unleashed on the media.

“My first recording of The Four Seasons with the English Chamber Orchestra was the first really popular classical album, even if I say it myself, before Pavarotti and before Vanessa Mae and before any of the mo-fo’s who made the big waves in classical music.” - Nigel Kennedy, 2011