Vivaldi: Concertos Op.11

On this CD:

1. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in D major, Op. 11/1, RV 207
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

2. Violin Concerto ("Il favorito"), for violin, strings & continuo in E minor, Op. 11/2, RV 277
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

3. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in A major, Op. 11/3, RV 336
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

4. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in G major, Op. 11/4, RV 308
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

5. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in C minor, Op. 11/5, RV 202
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

6. Oboe Concerto, for oboe, strings & continuo in G minor, Op. 11/6, RV460
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

Tracks:

Vespers Of The Blessed Virgin: Deus in adjutorium - Monteverdi
Canzon V - Canadian Brass
Canon In D - Pachelbel
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Overture - Mozart
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Non Piu Andrai - Mozart
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Mozart
Exultate Jubilate: Alleluia - Mozart
Piano sonata in A major: Rondo Alla Turca - Mozart
The Four Seasons: I - Allegro (Spring) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: II - Largo (Winter) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: III - Presto (Summer) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: IV - Allegro (Autumn) - Canadian Brass
Contrapunctus I (Andante Sostenuto) - Bach
Contrapunctus XIII (Rectus, Allegro Spiritoso) - Bach
Basin Street Blues - Canadian Brass
Chinatown, My Chinatown - Canadian Brass
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Traditional
The Saints' Halleluja - Canadian Brass

Customer Reviews:

A Must!.......2004-12-28

This is a must have for any fan of brass instrumentals. (Especially if you are a fan of the Canadian Brass.)

great music.......2000-12-18

I just bought this cd yesterday and i love it already. as a trumpeter, i can really enjoy and appreciate the music they perform. i was quite intrigued hearing canon in D (currently playing right now on my stereo), et al.

The one you need.......2000-06-26

If you are to buy only 1 CD for Brass Enemble, Get this! It captured the BEST of the Candian Brass (one of the top brass enemble in the world). It has all the nice tunes, e.g. Four Seasons, Cannon in D, etc. Strongly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Les plus belle Bach du Monde
Stunning Performance

Concertos italiens

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Alexandre Tharaud plays Rameau
Chopin Valses (Waltzes)
Ravel: L'Oeuvre pour piano
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Tic, Toc, Choc

ASIN: B00070FTM2
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Tracks:

Sicilienne Du Concerto In D Minor, BWV 596
Allegro
Largo
Presto
Arie De La Pastorale In C Minor, BWV 590
I. (Sans Indication De Temp)
Andante
Presto
Allegro
Adagio
Presto
Adagio
Vivace
Grave
Prestissimo
Allegro
Largo
Allegro
Andante Du Concerto In B Minor, BWV 979

Customer Reviews:

Les plus belle Bach du Monde.......2005-08-05

This recording has been in my player for the last few months and has given me utter enjoyment and many a relieved smile since. It was so enchanting, I even forgot to write a review for ionarts.org about it (for the purpose of which I had gotten it a little before the release date). Now that everyone else and their aunt have agreed that this is absolutle superb, I'll chime in: It is! It is likely the best Bach recital on the piano I have heard in many years... heck - I think it's the best Bach recital I have. Musicality and technical ability combine to a wonderfully rewarding, masterful approach in this program of transcriptions *by* Bach. Although all taken from other (Italian - hence the name of the disc, apart from offering the "Italian Concerto") composers - which was the way to learn new and master old styles back then - they all very much have Bach stamped on them. You couldn't ask for more. Look for this disc to be included among the top 10 of 2005.

Stunning Performance.......2005-05-09

I have at least five different records of the Italian Concertos, including Glenn Gould's. This is by far the most enjoyable, the most vivid, the most thoughtful interpretation. I can't wait for Tharaud's next album.

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a different Vivaldi
Passionate scholarship, scholarly passion

Vivaldi: Concertos for the Emperor

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Albinoni - 12 Concertos, op. 9 / Manze, de Bruine, AAM, Hogwood

ASIN: B0002I742W
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

I. Larghetto - Allegro Non Molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro Molto
I. Allegro
II. Cantabile
III. Allegro
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro Non Molto
I. Allegro Non Molto
II. Largo
III. Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
I. Largo Molto E Spiccato
II. Largo
III. Allegro Non Molto

Customer Reviews:

a different Vivaldi.......2007-07-10

What we've got here are six "reconstructed concertos" that come from a group of 12 that bear the same name as their famous counterparts, "La Cetra," but are completely different. Without going into the history of these pieces (the attractive & well informed harmonia mundi liner notes tell the story better than I can), let me just say that they existed in virtual obscurity until this recording. Let me also say that I wasn't quite prepared for the Vivaldi I heard here, but immediately loved it.

The music is most unusual as it presents a more complex picture of Vivaldi than we may be used to. There's an angularity & occasional turbulence here along with whimsey & sweetness that's completely beguiling. No doubt, some of the appeal can be attributed to the brilliant playing of The English Concert & their leader, Andrew Manze. There's a dash & elan to their treatments that others have written extensively about, & just when you think there may be a little TOO much dash, things quiet down & you realize that they've got the music figured out just right. Coming as I do from the I Musici school of Vivaldi, Andrew Manze's ultra-virtuoso attacks require listening with slightly different ears, but it didn't take long for him to win me over. His playing, while sometimes a little frenetic, is heartfelt & not just for display.

In short, this is bona-fide great music, beautifully recorded (all 79 minutes of it), that should be included in a desert island Vivaldi collection.

Passionate scholarship, scholarly passion.......2004-09-15

Andrew Manze and the English Concert have given us one CD already: their performance of Mozart's "Night Music" (one of the best Mozart programs I've ever seen) redefined how Mozart should sound. After such an amazing first release, I wanted to be the first kid on my block to own this new CD and I believe that I am. I hope that someone will give me a cookie for my effort.

This reviewer knows that everyone is human, but Andrew Manze has reached a level of performance that surpasses perfection and only his best peers have the right to criticize. When every major publisher and performer in the world "fixes" one of Mozart's notes in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Andrew Manze restores it and it finally sounds right, maybe we should listen to Mr. Manze--he has much to teach us and we have much to learn.

And teach he does; Harmonia Mundi was nice enough to send buyers of "Night Music" a full length CD which features Mr. Manze's "director's commentary" on Eine Kleine. (This sort of commentary may be the first of its kind; we must all pray that it is not the last.) I listened to a seasoned music teacher at my Conservatory tell me that she had always despised Eine Kleine; when she heard the commentary, she fell in love with the piece. This sort of phenomena is common. Mr. Manze always writes the most fascinating and erudite liner notes that never cease to illuminate the music for both laymen and scholars. Young American music students who have an interest in period performance must seek out Manze's work.

So what about the Vivaldi, then? From the tray card and liner notes: "This programme brings together for the first time a reconstruction of six violin concertos from the manuscript which Vivaldi presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1728." "This recording presents... the six concertos which can be reconstructed from alternative sources." "Performing editions for this recording were prepared from existing sources by Andrew Manze." Andrew Manze's devotion to music through his scholarship is not peerless, but his peers are few and you've probably heard of most of them: Cecilia Bartoli, Rinaldo Alessandri, and Alessandro di Marchi. Looking at those names brings up the question: can English groups perform Vivaldi well?

The short answer, of course, is "damn yeah they can," but this issue could use a paragraph. With all due respect to the founder of the English Concert, Trevor Pinnock's Vivaldi did not sound like this, and neither did Christopher Hogwood's--both English keyboard players, both respected scholars. Europa Galante, Il Giardino Armonico, and Academia Montris Regalis have shown the world that they know how Vivaldi should sound; their interpretations can be very intimidating because Vivaldi is simply in their blood and you can hear it. But Handel, a German, became an Italian composer, Bach successfully combined the French and Italian styles, Geminiani was loved in England. The Italians may have Vivaldi in their blood, but the best of Baroque musicians transcended their nationality and enjoyed the diverse flavors of Europe's musical geography--even if it posed considerable headaches with instrumentation, continuo style, ornamentation, and so forth. The same is true today; the English Concert cannot escape their name, but their consummate musicianship surpasses their nationality. (Think of Rachel Podger's extremely successful recording of Vivaldi's La Stravaganza--an English violinist playing Italian music with a Polish orchestra recorded by a company based in the Netherlands.)

I would write more about the passionate side of this recording, but writing about passion is more futile than describing the internet to a walrus who has never seen a computer. Let's just say that Andrew Manze has barrels of "it," and uses "it" judiciously and deliciously. Of course, it would be worthless to comment on the performance itself, what I liked about this track and that track. (If you're a violin student, be over a toilet when you listen to the third track for the first time. I mean this figuratively.) The recorded sound is, of course, unbelievably amazing--audiophiles will definitely want to wait for the SACD release. If you heard "Night Music," you know as well as I that you must buy this disc. If you haven't heard Andrew Manze play, you need to and this CD is a great place to start--it represents the current climax of his career which he will continue to surpass every year with his continued success. Do you remember what Leonard Bernstein did for classical music appreciation? If these performers continue what they have been doing, they will be the leaders of a very large musical revolution that brings laymen back into our concert halls and gives seasoned musicians new tools to express themselves. This historical revolution has been building a larger and larger audience for the past three decades and shows no sign of slowing down. If classical music is flat-lining, Andrew Manze's performances represent those heart-paddle things that jolt you into the air and back into the world of the living. Clear!!!

If all this sounds too fantastic to be trustworthy, buy the CD, write a review, and show me where I am wrong. But for those of us familiar with his passionate scholarship and scholarly passion, this is just the latest in a long line of desert island discs from the world's most talented period performance ninja, Andrew Manze.

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classic performances
Pina Carmirelli's Is The Best By I Musici If Not The Best Period
I-Musici + Vivaldi; wow!
Buena interpretación de I Musici
okay Four Seasons, the other concerti are not as good...

Antonio Vivaldi: Concerti Op. 8

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000416D
Release Date: 1993-10-12

Tracks:

Concerto No.1 In E, RV269 (Spring): I - Allegro
Concerto No.1 In E, RV269 (Spring): II - Largo
Concerto No.1 In E, RV269 (Spring): III - Allegro (Danza pastorale)
Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV315 (Summer): I - Allegro non molto - Allegro
Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV315 (Summer): II - Adagio - Presto - Adagio
Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV315 (Summer): III - Presto (Tempo impetuoso d'estate)
Concerto No.3 In F, RV293 (Autumn): I - Allegro (Ballo, e canto de' villanelli)
Concerto No.3 In F, RV293 (Autumn): II - Adagio molto (Ubriachi dormienti)
Concerto No.3 In F, RV293 (Autumn): III - Allegro (La caccia)
Concerto No.4 In F Minor, RV297 (Winter): I - Allegro non molto
Concerto No.4 In F Minor, RV297 (Winter): II - Largo
Concerto No.4 In F Minor, RV297 (Winter): III - Allegro
Concerto No.5 In E Flat, RV253 (The Sea Storm): I - Allegro
Concerto No.5 In E Flat, RV253 (The Sea Storm): II - Largo
Concerto No.5 In E Flat, RV253 (The Sea Storm): III - Allegro
Concerto No.6 In C, RV180 (Pleasure): I - Allegro
Concerto No.6 In C, RV180 (Pleasure): II - Largo
Concerto No.6 In C, RV180 (Pleasure): III - Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No. 7 in D Minor, RV 242: I - Allegro
Concerto No. 7 in D Minor, RV 242: II - Largo
Concerto No. 7 in D Minor, RV 242: III - Allegro
Concerto No. 8 in G Minor, RV 332: I - Allegro
Concerto No. 8 in G Minor, RV 332: II - Largo
Concerto No. 8 in G Minor, RV 332: III - Allegro
Concerto No. 9 in D Minor, RV 236: I - Allegro
Concerto No. 9 in D Minor, RV 236: II - Largo
Concerto No. 9 in D Minor, RV 236: III - Allegro
Concerto No. 10 In B Flat, RV 362 'La caccia': I - Allegro
Concerto No. 10 In B Flat, RV 362 'La caccia': II - Adagio
Concerto No. 10 In B Flat, RV 362 'La caccia': III - Allegro
Concerto No. 11 in D, RV 210: I - Allegro
Concerto No. 11 in D, RV 210: II - Largo
Concerto No. 11 in D, RV 210: III - Allegro
Concerto No. 12 in C, RV 178: I - Allegro
Concerto No. 12 in C, RV 178: II - Largo
Concerto No. 12 in C, RV 178: III - Allegro

Amazon.com

Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is actually part of a larger group of works, the Twelve Violin Concertos, op. 8. This set, in turn, has an additional subtitle: "The Contest Between Invention and Harmony"; not that anyone is quite sure what this means. Aside from The Four Seasons there are several other works with subtitles, including "Storm at Sea," "The Hunt" and "Rapture." It's only natural that when you've composed some 600 concertos for various instruments, the ones with the catchy names will become the most popular. But the others are no less fine, and if your interest in Vivaldi goes beyond the "Big Four," then you might want to check out this excellent set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

classic performances.......2007-07-10

"The Four Seasons" naturally tend to overshadow the other eight concertos of Vivaldi's op. 8, of which Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter are merely a part. That these four concertos form a suite of their own adds to the relative neglect of the other concertos; but, the other eight concertos are full of great music, even if they aren't as brilliantly conceived as their famous relatives. But what other music did Vivaldi write that can live up to the reputation of "The Four Seasons"?

For several decades beginning in the 1950's I Musici was the leading ensemble specializing in Italian Baroque music, & these performances were standard-setting in their time. They still hold up exceptionally well even though approaches to early music, driven by the period instrument revolution, have changed considerably since then.

Perhaps the simplest way to define the differences between I Musici & more contemporary ensembles is that I Musici's approach is refined & elegant without being extravagent, whereas more modern groups seem to be scaled down & often a little more earthy. Both definitely have their merits, although I find myself attracted more to I Musici's grandeur & sweep.

The stereo sound here is acceptable. The first four concerti ("The Four Seasons") date from 1959 & appear to have been recorded in a bigger hall than the other eight, which were recorded in 1961.

If you are looking for a classic set of op. 8, then I Musici is the way to go. If you looking only for "The Four Seasons," expand your horizons & buy the whole set.

Pina Carmirelli's Is The Best By I Musici If Not The Best Period.......2005-10-20

Although I Musici is certainly one of the best chamber groups in the world for Baroque music if not the best as claimed by Toscanini, there is also a standard of excellence for the violin soloists in I Musici itself over the past 50 years and Felix Ayo is simply not a top contender. Ayo is decent for the concerti but the crucial 'Four Seasons' is very average by the standards of I Musici itself. Although I find Ayo's interpretation better than Michelucci's with I Musici, this performance of 'The Four Seasons' itself is not I Musici's best for this piece by a long shot. I have not heard one rendition anywhere whether chamber or symphonic that even compares to the absolutely brilliant 1982 performance by I Musici and Pina Carmirelli. It is truly the clearest and most passionate performance available to date. Carmirelli's proficiency for this piece completely surpasses Ayo's rather safe and monotone interpretation. Michelucci's is even worse. With a steady but constant pace, Carmirelli swings the bow and soars the scales with impeccable clarity and proficiency: there is simply not one hesitation or moment of faltering in transitions. It is simply a breathtakingly divine performance that surpasses Ayo's rather cautious performance.

For those who are debating other options, don't be deceived into buying other performances even if they have skilled violinists such as Perlman or Zuckerman. The latter are specialized in the German Romantic and Klezmer traditions of violin and so tend to perform better with Northern European composers from the Romantic period such as Brahms or Wienawski but not with Italian ones generally and Italian Baroque violin pieces least of all! As for performances by great conductors and symphonies such as Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic or Solti and the Chicago/London Symphonies, the orchestral ensembles they use are generally too large for chamber pieces and most of the instruments used are modern. They are also recorded in too large of spaces so the performances sound like Beethoven's 9th instead of a chamber lyrical piece. There are other groups and recordings that are more faithful to Baroque techniques and traditional interpretations but their performances tend to suffer in their lyrical aspects and recording quality. The artists in such chamber groups generally come from academic backgrounds in traditional techniques and instruments instead of professional circles and so are more focused on applying the techniques instead of evoking from them the lyrical mood required by the piece. This results in clumsy and lifeless performances where each musician is so painfully struggling to apply the correct technique to their individual instrument that the entire piece comes out sounding as a cacophony instead of a symphony. Vivaldi was an innovative and demanding composer and this piece is one of the most difficult pieces to perform in the repertoire of music for the solo violin. I Musici have been world acclaimed leaders in performing Italian Baroque for over 50 years and have performed with many of the best musicians in this field. They emphasize more on a passionate Italian Romantic interpretation in its performances instead of a rigid Baroque one but reach a good balance with tradition by performing in the Italian style almost exclusively on Stradivarius instruments and within the size of a small Baroque chamber orchestra. The Stradivarius is the gem of traditional string instruments and really an instrument in and of itself that no other period instrument can even compare to. There are also really no chamber groups in existence that perform on so many Stradivari at once as they are simply too rare and even many professionals simply lack sufficient talent to play one proficiently.

Ayo's performance is not the worst in terms of I Musici but it is definitely not the best the group ever performed. He actually does quite well in the remaining concerti. It is simply not a good performance of 'The Four Seasons' which is the most technically demanding and where Ayo starts to slip. It is still better than most of those by your typical chamber groups out there however. The best for I Musici if not across the board is its 1982 performance with Pina Carmirelli. Carmirelli's performance is extremely hard to find these days and sometimes ridiculously expensive so a close match by a comparable Italian chamber group is Salvatore Acardo's Stradivarius performance with I Solisti delle Settimane Musicali di Napoli which is available in abundance here on Amazon. Accardo himself had already played several times with I Musici before making his legendary performance with Il Solisti and had cultivated his talent to mastery. That peformance is the only close contender I can think of that comes even close to Carmirelli's passionate and legendary performance. Unless you are interested purely in symphonic interpretations, I would stick to either Carmirelli's performance or Accardo's as an alternative because the quality of their performances is exponentially superior to everyone elses' without question.

I-Musici + Vivaldi; wow!.......2000-07-17

Los doce conciertos Op.8 de Vivaldi son sin duda alguna una de las obras de "música clásica" más conocidas y más desconocidas al mismo tiempo. Son las más conocidas porque los primeros 4 conciertos son las célebres "cuatro estaciones", obra de referencia obligada incluso para quienes no gustan de este tipo de música; pero son desconocidas porque los 8 conciertos restantes han pasado desapercibidos para la enorme mayoría del público, a pesar de su gran belleza. I Musici durante mucho tiempo fue considerada una de las mejores orquestas de cámara del mundo, y si a ello añadimos que también era considerada como una de las mejores intérpretes de la obra de Vivaldi, entonces tenemos que en este disco combinamos lo mejor de ambas opiniones, para obtener una colección excepcional. Quizá la única crítica que se les podría hacer es que no utilizan "instrumentos originales" como se ha puesto de moda últimamente, pero su interpretación es tan brillante que fácilmente se les perdona eso y más. Quizá la calidad de grabación deje algo que desear (estas grabaciones fueron hechas alrededor de 1960, cuando la tecnología de almacenamiento de audio aún no estaba tan perfeccionada), pero por su precio y por la calidad de la interpretación bien vale la pena probar estos dos discos.

Buena interpretación de I Musici.......2000-06-16

I Musici durante mucho tiempo fue considerada una de las mejores orquestas de cámara del mundo, y si a ello añadimos que también era considerada como una de las mejores intérpretes de la obra de Vivaldi, entonces tenemos que en este disco combinamos lo mejor de ambas opiniones, para obtener una colección excepcional. Quizá la única crítica que se les podría hacer es que no utilizan "instrumentos originales" como se ha puesto de moda últimamente, pero su interpretación es tan brillante que fácilmente se les perdona eso y más. Quizá la calidad de grabación deje algo que desear (estas grabaciones fueron hechas alrededor de 1960, cuando la tecnología de almacenamiento de audio aún no estaba tan perfeccionada), pero por su precio y por la calidad de la interpretación bien vale la pena probar estos dos discos.

okay Four Seasons, the other concerti are not as good..........2000-06-01

An overall great recording, but the Four Seasons here could be a little more energetic, but that is a matter of taste. This recording sounds just a little too slow. The other concertos are not nearly as satisfying as the big four, but the ones in minor keys are pretty good. I usually listen to the Four Seasons on other recordings and come to these CD's for No.6, No.7, No.8, and No. 10, the rest not being as interesting in my humble opinion. Of course, virtuosity and showmanship permeate all of these violin concertos. The recordings were made in 1959 and 1961, but the sound quality is relatively excellent, with great balance between solo violin, harpsichord, and orchestra. The liner notes are informative and sincerely point out that not all of Vivaldi's concertos are of equal interest, with a few hints as to which ones are considered outstanding. Whatever you do, please consider a period instrument recording of the Four Seasons too so that you hear the real Baroque sound as well as more modern interpretations, both approaches are beautiful, thanks to Vivaldi's creativity.

Average customer rating:

Vivaldi ROCKS ! ! ! ! !
A Little More Vivaldi Please

Vivaldi Concertos
Antonio Vivaldi , The English Concert Trevor Pinnock , Simon Standage , Lisa Beznosiuk , Roy Goodman , Nigel North , and David Reichenberg
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart: The Piano Concertos

ASIN: B00005KK4Q
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Con in G, RV 151 'Alla Rustica': 1. Presto - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in G, RV 151 'Alla Rustica': 2. Adagio - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in G, RV 151 'Alla Rustica': 3. Allegro - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in B flat, RV 548: 1. (Allegro) - David Reichenberg/Simon Standage
Con in B flat, RV 548: 2. Largo - David Reichenberg/Simon Standage
Con in B flat, RV 548: 3. Allegro - David Reichenberg/Simon Standage
Con in C, RV 558 'Con Molti Stromenti': 1. Allegro Molto - Philip Pickett/Rachel Beckett/Colin Lawson/Carlos Riera/Simon Standage/Micaela Comberti...
Con in C, RV 558 'Con Molti Stromenti': 2. Andante Molto - Philip Pickett/Rachel Beckett/Colin Lawson/Carlos Riera/Simon Standage/Micaela Comberti...
Con in C, RV 558 'Con Molti Stromenti': 3. Allegro - Philip Pickett/Rachel Beckett/Colin Lawson/Carlos Riera/Simon Standage/Micaela Comberti...
Con in G, RV 516: 1. Allegro Molto - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock
Con in G, RV 516: 2. Andante (Molto) - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock
Con in G, RV 516: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock
Con in a, RV 461: 1. Allegro Non Molto - David Reichenberg
Con in a, RV 461: 2. Larghetto - David Reichenberg
Con in a, RV 461: 3. (Allegro) - David Reichenberg
Con in G, RV 532: 1. Allegro - James Tyler/Robin Jeffrey
Con in G, RV 532: 2. Andante - James Tyler/Robin Jeffrey
Con in G, RV 532: 3. Allegro - James Tyler/Robin Jeffrey

Tracks:

Con in A, RV 159: 1. Allegro - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in A, RV 159: 2. Adagio - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in A, RV 159: 3. Allegro - The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Con in E, RV 271 'L'Amoroso': 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
Con in E, RV 271 'L'Amoroso': 2. Cantabile - Simon Standage
Con in E, RV 271 'L'Amoroso': 3. (Allegro) - Simon Standage
Con in e, RV 484: 1. Allegro Poco - Milan Turkovic
Con in e, RV 484: 2. Andante - Milan Turkovic
Con in e, RV 484: 3. Allegro - Milan Turkovic
Con in G, RV 436: 1. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
Con in G, RV 436: 2. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
Con in G, RV 436: 3. (Allegro) - Lisa Beznosiuk
Con in d, RV 540: 1. Allegro - Roy Goodman/Nigel North
Con in d, RV 540: 2. Largo - Roy Goodman/Nigel North
Con in d, RV 540: 3. Allegro - Roy Goodman/Nigel North
Con in G, RV 545: 1. Andante Molto - David Reichenberg/Milan Turkovic
Con in G, RV 545: 2. Largo - David Reichenberg/Milan Turkovic
Con in G, RV 545: 3. Allegro Molto - David Reichenberg/Milan Turkovic

Tracks:

L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.1 in D, RV 549: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.1 in D, RV 549: 2. Largo E Spiccato - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.1 in D, RV 549: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.2 in g, RV 578: 1. Adagio E Spiccato - Simon Standage/Michaela Comberti/Jaap Ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.2 in g, RV 578: 2. Allegro - Simon Standage/Michaela Comberti/Jaap Ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.2 in g, RV 578: 3. Larghetto - Simon Standage/Michaela Comberti/Jaap Ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.2 in g, RV 578: 4. Allegro - Simon Standage/Michaela Comberti/Jaap Ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.3 in G, RV 310: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.3 in G, RV 310: 2. Largo - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.3 in G, RV 310: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.4 in e, RV 550: 1. Andante - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.4 in e, RV 550: 2. Allegro Assai - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.4 in e, RV 550: 3. Adagio/4. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.5 in A, RV 519: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.5 in A, RV 519: 2. Largo - Simon Standage/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.5 in A, RV 519: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Miles Golding
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.6 in a, RV 356: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.6 in a, RV 356: 2. Largo - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.6 in a, RV 356: 3. Presto - Simon Standage

Tracks:

L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.7 in F, RV 567: 1. Andante - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.7 in F, RV 567: 2. Adagio - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.7 in F, RV 567: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.7 in F, RV 567: 4. Adagio - Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.8 in a, RV 522: 1. Allegro - Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.8 in a, RV 522: 2. Larghetto - Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.8 in a, RV 522: 3. Allegro - Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.9 in D, RV 230: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.9 in D, RV 230: 2. Larghetto - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.9 in D, RV 230: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.10 in b, RV 580: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.10 in b, RV 580: 2. Largo - Larghetto - Adagio - Largo - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.10 in b, RV 580: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Micaela Comberti/Miles Golding/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.11 in d, RV 565: 1. Allegro - Adagio Spiccato E Tutti - Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.11 in d, RV 565: 2. Largo E Spicatto - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.11 in d, RV 565: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage/Elizabeth Wilcock/Jaap ter Linden
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.12 in E, RV 265: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.12 in E, RV 265: 2. Largo - Simon Standage
L'estro Armonico, Op.3: Con No.12 in E, RV 265: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage

Tracks:

6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.1 in F, RV 433 'La Tempesta Di Mare': 1. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.1 in F, RV 433 'La Tempesta Di Mare': 2. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.1 in F, RV 433 'La Tempesta Di Mare': 3. Presto - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 1. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 2. Presto (Fantasmi) - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 3. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 4. Presto - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 5. Largo (Il Sonno) - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.2 in g, RV 439 'La Notte': 6. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.3 in D, RV 428 'Il Gardellino': 1. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.3 in D, RV 428 'Il Gardellino': 2. Without Tempo Indication - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.3 in D, RV 428 'Il Gardellino': 3. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.4 in G, RV 435: 1. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.4 in G, RV 435: 2. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.4 in G, RV 435: 3. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.5 in F, RV 434: 1. Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.5 in F, RV 434: 2. Largo Cantabile - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.5 in F, RV 434: 3. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.6 in G, RV 437: 1. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.6 in G, RV 437: 2. Largo - Lisa Beznosiuk
6 Fl Cons, Op.10: No.6 in G, RV 437: 3. Allegro - Lisa Beznosiuk

Customer Reviews:

Vivaldi ROCKS ! ! ! ! !.......2007-01-12

Violins, harpsichords, basso continuo, what can I say.
Vivaldi ROCKS ! ! ! !
Excellent selection of his music and as usual flawlessly performed by the english consort.

A Little More Vivaldi Please.......2003-12-28

This budget-priced, slim paper-sleeved box set of various Vivaldi Concertos on the DG/Archiv label is quite excellent. Trevor Pinnock, directing from the harpsichord and organ, leads the English Concert (an all-star cast including Roy Goodman and Simon Standage, both of whom have graduated to the podium in recent years) in digital recordings from the late 80s. Since the track information is not abundantly clear above, allow me to mention that the first two discs of this set feature various Concertos, discs 3 & 4 contain the complete "L'estro amonico" op. 3, and CD5 six Flute Concertos op. 10. While I have never been a big fan of period-instrument recordings, there is nothing I can complain about here. The performances are warm, spirited, and thoroughly engaging, and certainly not academic. In fact, my only complaint is that there is not more to listen to. I popped this set in my 5-disc changer over the Holidays, and was disappointed to find it end so soon, being that four of the five CDs log in at the mid-50 minute mark and one only at a whopping 45:08. By my calculations, there is easily room for an additional two hours of material here! Alas, it is the only problem with an otherwise stellar set.

Average customer rating:

somewhat disappointing
A Very Good Opus 8
A Bargain and Then Some
Probably the best one on the market
Disappointing interpretation

Vivaldi: Concertos Op.8

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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C.P.E. Bach - Hamburg Concertos / Melante Amsterdam · Bob van Asperen
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Albinoni: The Complete Concertos Op. 9; Adagio For Organ And Strings

ASIN: B000031WJ9
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro non molto
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Adagio - Presto
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Presto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: II Adagio molto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: I Allegro non molto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: I Presto
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: III Presto
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: II Largo
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: II Largo
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: III Allegro

Tracks:

Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Largo
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Largo
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: II Adagio
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: III Allegro
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: I Allegro
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: II Andante
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: III Allegro
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: I Allegro Molto
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: II Andante (molto)
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: III Allegro

Amazon.com

These days it's fashionable among Baroque music aficionados to say that only the young Italian groups like Il Giardino Armonico have the flair and imagination to make Vivaldi's concertos sound exciting instead of routine. Well, it isn't necessarily so. The Four Seasons is surely as overexposed as classical music can be, yet the UK-based Raglan Baroque Players and the gifted violinist Monica Huggett make enchanting and even exciting music out of it. Their playing is clean, energetic, and rhythmically supple--granted, they don't go to the astonishing extremes of tempo you sometimes hear from Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano, but they're a long way from "sewing-machine Baroque." Dynamics are another matter: Huggett, in particular, plays daringly softly at times--and her courage pays off, drawing a listener close as if to hear her whisper secrets. (It was brave also of Virgin's recording engineers not to pump up the volume electronically.) Along with The Four Seasons, this two-for-one budget reissue includes the other eight concertos that Vivaldi published in his collection Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ("The Contest Between Harmony and Invention"). Huggett and her colleagues play them with verve, but to these ears, at least, most of those remaining concertos don't have the same inventiveness and spark as their more famous counterparts. (Concerto No. 10, "The Hunt," is engaging, however, as are the double concertos that round out the second disc.) This release is an excellent value, although you probably shouldn't listen to it all in one sitting. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

somewhat disappointing.......2007-06-22

Monica Huggett is certainly a highly accomplished violinist, however, her & the Raglan Baroque Players vision of Vivaldi's op.8 concertos is just not to my taste. Theirs is a legitimately bouyant, lighthearted approach to this uplifting music, yet the treatment seems to be so bouyant as to be almost weightless. One of the primary culprits here? The tempi, which are invariably too fast.

It almost goes without saying that the Raglan Baroque Players are technically flawless (almost to a fault, as they seem to play too effortlessly, if such a thing can be imagined), but their approach simply does not fully communicate the spirit of Vivaldi.

A Very Good Opus 8.......2007-02-15

Some few ago I decided not to buy any more four seasons/ opus 8, but I was reminded of this CD, recorded in 1986, when looking for more Raglan Baroque recordings after being very pleased with their Locatelli Opus 1. At the price I had to have it. It follows their 1986 recording of Vivaldi's opus 9, La Cetra,(see my review), and is another excellent, even better, recording. The concertos, certainly the first 5, are very familiar and of the highest standard. There are very many recordings of the Four Seasons, but this is not just another one, its top rate. Huggett does not try to dominate the performance, she plays with Raglan Baroque, not over them, the music flows beautifully. As with opus 9, a lute has been used in the continuo, which adds a lushness to the sound, I would have liked to hear more of it. The two unpublished concertos which have been added to fill the CD are certainly worth listening to, particularly the one for two violins. I compared this recording with a 1993 one by Manze with Amsterdam Baroque and found Manze's tone a bit harsh and his playing a bit dominant. Fabio Biondi's version was based on manuscripts that showed how these works might have been played by a virtuoso of the time, they are highly ornamented and dramatic, great to listen to but difficult to compare, you love them or hate them. ( I love them in small doses)
I can highly recommend Monica Huggett and Raglan Baroque's version of Vivaldi's opus 8.

( An aside on the price; many years ago when I first started work I bought the occasional 12in LP of Beethoven etc, they cost 52% of my weekly wage, this double CD cost 3% of my weekly superanuation, and that includes overseas postage. We've never had it so good ! )

A Bargain and Then Some.......2002-06-04

If all you know of Vivaldi's "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" are the concertos called "The Four Seasons," then you know the essential Vivaldi contained therein. Concerto No. 5, "La Tempesta di mare," known in other incarnations is pleasing, as are the interesting concertos for violin and cello and two violins. But Vivaldi lavished all his poetry on "The Four Seasons." In these performances, the poetry emerges with great verve, and both soloist and conductor lavish such care on Vivaldi's clever tone painting that it is like hearing the thrice-familiar works for the first--oh, well, let's say the second time! You hear more detail the second time around anyway, as you will here.

With fine sound and a price that is less than many a mid-price CD of "The Four Seasons" alone, this is a great bargain for my money--or anybody's money, I'd guess.

Probably the best one on the market.......2000-09-27

I spent almost a year trying to track this CD down, before this 2 disc dirt cheap re-release. Wish I'd waited longer, as I ended up with a single disc instead of the full Op. 8. It was worth the effort though, as this is an incredible interpretation of an over-heard work. While I personally find much of Il Giardino Armonico's (now out of print) performance to be absolutely incredible, The Raglan Baroque and Monica Huggett perform a more subdued, but almost as equally stunning rendition. I think the manner in which they play with rhythm is particularly engaging, and often quite subtle.

This release does not contain the all-important poetry that accompanies the four seasons, which is unfortunate. Track down those words because they really enrich your experience with the music, and Huggett's performance in particular. You can hear that she was paying attention to these words, and to the specifically programmatic nature of these works. This attention to detail comes through and speaks highly of the performances throughout. The liner notes do not list the players, either, but Kraemer uses an archlute for continuo. The recording was made in 1988, and apparently was the first one to do so.

For a solid, more traditional performance, I'd recommend Pinnock and The English Concert. If you can, track down the Il Giardino Armonico performance (on Teldec), but otherwise pick up this great bargain.

Disappointing interpretation.......2000-08-11

I was very disappointed by this recording of "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'invenzione" because Nicholas Kraemer gave a romantic interpretation to these concertos, in particular to the four seasons. Sometimes in the solo passages the tempo becomes slower than in the "tutti" : THESE CHANGEMENTS ARE NOT MARKED BY VIVALDI (I can say it because I have the full score of these concertos). However Monica Huggett (the solo violin) and the orchestra are very good.

Vivaldi : L'estro armonico / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante

Average customer rating:

J.S. Bach liked it and so did I !!
Perfection
Vibrant Vivaldi (Despite Biondi)
BRILLIANT
Not a good choice

Vivaldi : L'estro armonico / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
Antonio Vivaldi , Fabio Biondi , and Europa Galante
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Vivaldi: La Stravaganza

ASIN: B000007TKK
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Concerto No.2 In G Minor: 1. Adagio e Spiccato
Concerto No.2 In G Minor: 2. Allegro
Concerto No.2 In G Minor: 3. Larghetto
Concerto No.2 In G Minor: 4. Allegro
Concerto No.1 in D major: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.1 in D major: 2. Largo e spiccato
Concerto No.1 in D major: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.6 In A Minor: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.6 In A Minor: 2. Largo
Concerto No.6 In A Minor: 3. Presto
Concerto No.5 In A Major: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.5 In A Major: 2. Largo
Concerto No.5 In A Major: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.4 In E Minor: 1. Andante
Concerto No.4 In E Minor: 2. Allegro assai
Concerto No.4 In E Minor: 3. Adagio
Concerto No.4 In E Minor: 4. Allegro
Concerto No.3 In G Major: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.3 In G Major: 2. Largo
Concerto No.3 In G Major: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No.8 In A Minor, RV522: 1. Andante
Concerto No.8 In A Minor, RV522: 2. Larghetto e spiritoso
Concerto No.8 In A Minor, RV522: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.7 In F Major, RV567: 1. Andante
Concerto No.7 In F Major, RV567: 2. Adagio
Concerto No.7 In F Major, RV567: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.7 In F Major, RV567: 4. Adagio
Concerto No.7 In F Major, RV567: 5. Allegro
Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV565: 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV565: 2. Adagio e spiccato
Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV565: 3. Allegro
Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV565: 4. Largo e spiccato
Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV565: 5. Allegro
Concerto No.9 In D Major, RV 230: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.9 In D Major, RV 230: 2. Larghetto
Concerto No.9 In D Major, RV 230: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.10 In B Minor, RV580: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.10 In B Minor, RV580: 2. Largo e spiccato
Concerto No.10 In B Minor, RV580: 3. Allegro
Concerto No.12 In E Major, RV265: 1. Allegro
Concerto No.12 In E Major, RV265: 2. Largo e spiccato
Concerto No.12 In E Major, RV265: 3. Allegro

Amazon.com

This was the great collection of 12 varied and exciting violin concertos that turned Bach on to concerto writing. In fact, he transcribed several of these works for solo harpsichord, organ--even for harpsichords and orchestra. What fascinated him most was the balanced, three-movement form, the brilliance of the solo passages, the tunefulness of the music generally, and Vivaldi's seemingly inexhaustible storehouse of invention. When a composer ventured to publish a collection such as this, he was making a major statement. This is one of the really big ones in Baroque music, and it's performed with splendid authority and an unrivaled sense of sheer joy. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

J.S. Bach liked it and so did I !!.......2007-04-22

The more I hear Vivaldi, the more I see the Four Seasons as a little strand of the composer's vast output and inspired work. L'estro Armonico is totally upbeat, and so much so that some pieces could even be the precursors of tango, flamenco, and polka. Don't be surprised if this music moves you to dance.

Perfection.......2007-03-05

I have been listening to Vivaldi's L'estro armonico for over 30 years, the Academy of St Martins in the Field's 1975 recording got me hooked, now it would sound a bit dull, then the Academy of Ancient Music's 1980 period instrument version was better, and still sounds pretty good, then the English Concert's version and so on. I used to dream of a perfect interpretation of this work, and on first hearing this version I knew this was it, a perfect recording of a very important work. But I guess it all boils down to whether you love or hate Biondi, I obviously love him. Baroque music is all about interpretation, not just playing the notes on a published score which was only meant as a guide for a virtuoso performer. There was little point in publishing music too difficult for a prospective buyer. I will concede that Biondi stretches it a bit sometimes, like his Opus 8, but not here.
There is little point in going on, if you prefer your Vivaldi unornamented as published, thats OK, but I think this is a wonderful interpretation, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Vibrant Vivaldi (Despite Biondi).......2006-08-15

Formed in 1990 as one of Italy's pioneering period instrument ensembles, Europa Galante (with its leader Fabio Biondi) is decidedly in the "subjective" camp of period instrument performers - those who believe that creating an exciting experience for modern-day listeners is more important than pure "authenticity". They have succeeded in cultivating a distinctively Italian period-instrument sound - more vibrato and legato than most baroque players - that seems a natural outgrowth of the sounds of the Italian language. At their best, they produce an incredibly warm, sweet, vocal string sound, such as can be heard at the beginning of the D major violin concerto on this set (track 14 of disc 2). In addition to following standard baroque orthodoxies, they often take great liberties with their music, using extreme changes of tempo and dynamics and the percussive effects of a prominent continuo section to create a dramatic experience. Since these players are Italian, Vivaldi is their birthright, and their passionate interpretations could not be more different from the anemic sound that sometimes comes from northern European period players.

Although he brings a welcome Italianate flair to the music, to my taste Fabio Biondi's style on this recording is simply too eccentric: he feels the need to play every phrase with different articulations and amounts of vibrato, and to cram in superfluous ornaments at incredibly fast tempos (to say nothing of his un-beautiful execution of trills). I almost feel that he concentrates on surface thrills and sensual aspects of the music at the expense of structural clarity and coherence, and that he plays with the music rather than plays it. He is obviously trying to bring the music alive, but at its worst his approach comes off as fussy and flaky. To be fair, my unfavorable impression may be due partly to the rather dry, thin, constricted timbre of his violin on this disc; I own other Biondi/Europa Galante CD's that show him to much better advantage.

As might be expected, the strongest tracks on this set are the concerti grossi and the concertos for multiple violins, where Biondi's eccentricities are tempered by his colleagues, and the efforts of the band as a whole cohere to produce vibrant, exciting, meaningful performances. That not many complete recordings of Vivaldi's Opus 3 on period instruments are available may mean that this mid-priced set will be a viable choice for many listeners. For my part, I have decided that I can live with Biondi's shortcomings and love Europa Galante and Vivaldi.

BRILLIANT.......2006-05-24

This is clearly one of my favorite baroque albums; it is some of the best music Vivaldi ever wrote. The performance is splendid.

Not a good choice.......2004-07-01

I had 3 excellent versions of Vivaldi's opus 3 (I Solisti Veneti, I Musici and N. Marriner), but I wanted a new version to enjoy it with real DDD sound. Unfortunately, I'm very dissapointed by this CD. Although I have listened it many times to see if can get used to it, I cannot like this performance. Europa Galante is an excellent ensemble, but in my opinion the problem here was the conductor.

Apparently Biondi tried to be "original" at any cost, so in each concerto he needs to add some fancy "effects" as he thought this music needs to be made more interesting. As a result you hear a sharp attack of the notes in one bar, the next bar is played legato, the following bar is with dotted notes, now the next bar is pianissimo,and now the following is fortissimo and so on... There is never a steady moment where the music can expand and you can feel the Harmony. You are just shaken around. The dynamics is exaggerated (huge and senseless dynamic jumps), the duration of some silences is exaggerated, he adds some annoying ritardandos that destroy the natural progression of the melodic line, etc. In addition, there are a lot of unnecessary 'embellishment' notes, much beyond what the music can stand.

These concertos contain very beautiful slow tempos that are treated here without respect. In some of them the chords are played so forte that it sounds as if someone were slashing the violins, destroying the subtle atmosphere of the music; in others, the soloist insists with his melismatic ornamental notes that trivializes the music up to a point of making it sound almost vulgar. I recognize that there are some good movements and the continuo part is very good, but I had a hard time for most of this disc because of the hyperkinetic and frantic style. For some moments I felt so annoyed that if this had been a live performance I would have tempted to stand up and shout: Could you please just play it how it was written! This CD will not show you L'Estro Armonico as Vivaldi deserves. It seems as if the soloist is much more interested in just showing of his fingering dexterity, no matter how much damage to the music is done. Finally I gave away this CD and purchased the version by C. Hogwood. That one was definitely better.

Pachelbel Canon & other Baroque Favorites

Average customer rating:

Perfection
Just beautiful

Pachelbel Canon & other Baroque Favorites

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003ERP
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Canon in D for Strings and Continuo
From Concerto Grosso In F, Op. 320: Adagio
From Oboe Concerto In C Minor: Adagio
From Guitar Concerto In D: Adagio
In G Minor for Strings And Organ: Adagio
(Siciliana) FromOboe Concerto: Cimerosa - Benjamin
From Viola Concerto In B Minor: Adagio
From Concerto Grosso In D Minor, Op. 3, NO. 11: Adagio

Customer Reviews:

Perfection.......2002-10-23

This cd is excellent and provides some of the best baroque music for a very low price. My personal favorites are Pachelbel's Canon, of course and the adagio from Vivaldi's Guitar Concerto in D Major. Despite Pachelbel being used in countless movies and commercials, its still a great composition and the version that appears on this cd is the best I've heard. Buy this if you want maximum quality for minimum price or if you just want some excellent baroque music.

Just beautiful.......2000-06-14

I have played the Marcello oboe concerto, which is why I bought this cd..... the adagio to this piece of music is enthralling and wraps you up in a slightly haunting, utterly beautiful piece. I may be biased because I have played the piece, but if I can deal with a piece of music for months and months of practice and still enjoy it, it must be special. Pachelbel's Canon and the Albinoni are very famous and perhaps overplayed, but these versions remind me of Why they are so widely listened to... the entire collection is Lovely.

Average customer rating:

One of the better La Stravaganza readings ever

Vivaldi: La Stravaganza, Op.4

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E39I
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Customer Reviews:

One of the better La Stravaganza readings ever.......2006-10-24

This is just about the best you can do if you're looking for a great period performance version of this. Hogwood is definitely one of the greats in the period performance movement. Neville Marriner's version might barely beat this one, but that one is played the traditional way. One caution: It say's here on Amazon that this is a single cd which is quite untrue. This always takes two discs no matter what version. I bought the last reasonably priced set at about close to $13.00 with shipping included. There is only one left, and at like $64.95 that's way way to much to pay for this. Just wait this crazy bozo out and he may reduce the price, so just be patient. Also, there might be someone who may come along and sell this for about $20.00, which is about what it's worth. Don't forget about the aformentioned Marriner version because I think it's easier to get at a very reasonable price.

P.S. Now this is available at about $17.50, so go for it now. You won't be disappointed.

Another P.S. This is now only $7.99 so definitely go for it!!!