Album: Max Richter, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Recomposed By Max Richter (Deutsche Grammophon)

For this latest entry in Deutsche Grammophon's Recomposed series, Max Richter reworked the most-heard classical piece by discarding about 75% of the original source material, to leave a leaner, more modern work that's like a neo-minimalist meditation on fragments of Vivaldi's melodies. It's a beautiful recomposition, with undulating string beds carrying Daniel Hope's lyrical lone violin lines. The "Spring" sections are joyously simple and engaging, with subsequent sections adding depth through high-string harmonies, methodical harpsichord and pulsing string ostinatos that reflect the original Vivaldian style. The result is a creditable palimpsest of the original work informed by modern pop and dance techniques.

Download: Spring; Summer; Autumn; Winter