In January of 2013, Anne Akiko Meyers was awarded exclusive lifetime use of the legendary 1741 Vieuxtemps Guarneri del Gesu, which has been dubbed the Mona Lisa of violins. It is legendary for it's peerless sound and near-pristine condition, and is believed to be the most expensive violin ever purchased. The violin has been guarded for centuries, and has not been in the recording studio until now. Composed around 1723, the Four Seasons is today one of the most beloved musical compositions. Originally written and performed by Vivaldi and the chamber orchestra he formed at a girls orphanage in Venice, these concerti were largely forgotten after the composer's death until their rediscovery in the 1920s and subsequent recording in the '50s. a set of sonnets, likely penned by Vivaldi himself, accompany the score and describe the natural settings that inspired the music.