Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) 
          Brilliant Classics Edition 
          Includes new performances by L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          Details after review 
          BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94840  [66 CDs] 
        
	    Since I 
		reviewed 
          the 40-CD Brilliant Classics Vivaldi Edition and made it Bargain of 
          the Month some time ago there have been several changes for the better.  
          Even then I noted that my review set differed slightly from the product 
          which was out on sale and that one CD was not what it purported to be. 
          
          
          Three changes certainly represent improvements: the box has now been 
          expanded from 40 to 66 CDs, still at a very attractive price, around 
          £70; there is now an online pdf document containing notes and texts, 
          though not all the texts are offered with translations.  Best of all 
          Brilliant have replaced some decent but hardly outstanding performances 
          of the Op.3, Op.4 and Op.8 concertos with more recommendable recordings.  
          
          
          All the new additions are improvements and little that has been omitted 
          is any great loss, though I do regret that the stylish and lively performances 
          by Musica ad Rhenum of Concertos for diverse instruments have not been 
          carried over.  I’ve suggested some alternatives but you wouldn’t need 
          to buy too many of these to exceed the price of the Brilliant box.  
          They may, however, prove useful to those who bought the earlier box 
          and would like to supplement it. 
          
          All of that means that the box compares favourably with the Decca Vivaldi 
          Masterworks collection of recordings featuring the AAM with Christopher 
          Hogwood, the New London Consort with Philip Pickett and the Australian 
          Brandenburg Consort with Andreas Scholl: 29 CDs for around £90, with 
          a download for around £48 (mp3) or £59 (flac).  You may have some of 
          those recordings if, for example, you followed my recommendation to 
          buy the Decca Baroque Era 50-CD set or the download of Volume 
          2 of that set when it was available.  Baroque Era contains cello 
          concertos and sonatas, the Op.6 concertos, The Four Seasons (but 
          not the rest of Op.8), oboe concertos, Stabat Mater and Nisi 
          Dominus. 
          
          CD12 in the original Brilliant set contained performances of Concerti 
          con organo obbligato, with Roberto Lorrigan (organ) and L’Arte 
          dell’Arco directed from the violin by Federico Guglielmo; there are 
          very few recordings of these attractive works and they receive very 
          good performances.  CD10 of the original contained recordings by L’Arte 
          dell’Arco of Lute and Mandolin Concertos.   Though there are 
          plenty of rival recordings of the lute and mandolin concertos, CD10 
          and CD12 were among the best performances in the box.  Those remain 
          as CD36 and CD25 respectively of the new box and are available separately 
          as 94059 and 93810, around £6.50 each, but they are also joined by other, 
          mostly more recent recordings, featuring L’Arte dell’Arco, who, with 
          their director Federico Guglielmo, have made quite a reputation for 
          themselves in recent years: 
          
          CD1-CD19: all Vivaldi’s concertos and sonatas published with 
          opus numbers, Op.1 to Op.12.  I’ve dipped into these via Qobuz 
          and been very impressed.  I had intended to purchase the 2-CD Op.8 set, 
          available separately, but didn’t need to because I received it for review 
          and was sufficiently impressed to make it a Recording of the Month.  
          That set is likely to be one of my main choices when I want to hear 
          The Four Seasons alone or the rest of the Op.8 collection. (95045 
          – review). 
          
          
          I did purchase and enjoyed the download of the Op.7 concertos, which 
          I see that Johan van Veen also recommended as an excellent way to fill 
          a gap in a Vivaldi collection (95044, 2 CDs – review).   
          At least some of the concertos in this set are not authentic but all 
          the music is very likeable in these vigorous performances. 
          
          If you own the earlier box and would like to add just the 20-CD set 
          of Op.1 to Op.12, with the Cello Sonatas as a bonus, it’s also available 
          separately (95200, target price £40).  You may see this set offered 
          as a download at what seems an attractive price, around £8 for mp3 or 
          £9 for lossless, but be aware that it’s been divided into three sections 
          and the price is for just one section. 
          
          Though I shall be listening to them frequently, I can’t say that these 
          will be my only choices for Op.1 to Op.12 and I recommend supplementing 
          them with some alternatives.  Good performances of Vivaldi always seem 
          to bring out something that you won’t find even in other good recordings: 
          
          
           Trio Sonatas, Op.1/1, 3, 4, 7-11 (Sonate da camera 
          a tre) including La follia: Naïve OP30535, performed by L’Estravagante 
          – review 
          by Johan van Veen. Stream 
          or download 
          from classicsonlinehd.com (with booklet). 
           For the performances of six of these sonatas by L’Estravagante 
          (Naïve OP30535, slightly misleadingly labelled Concerti da Camera) 
          please see Download 
          News 2013/11. 
          
           Violin Sonatas, Op.2: Hyperion Helios CDH55404 – Elizabeth 
          Wallfisch, etc. – from 
          hyperion-records.co.uk (CD and download – Download 
          Roundup August 2012/2)   
          
           L’Estro Armonico, Violin Concertos, Op.3: Double 
          Decca E4434762 (2-for-1) ASMF/Neville Marriner (on modern instruments) 
          
           Chandos CHAN0689 – review 
          – an earlier recording with Federico Guglielmo and L’Arte dell’Arco, 
          with Christopher Hogwood directing.  Download from theclassicalshop.net 
          (mp3 for £10 and lossless for £11.99, with pdf booklet). 
           Channel CCSSA36515 (effectively 2-for-1) Brecon Baroque/Rachel 
          Podger (period instruments).  Review. 
          
           Double Decca E450782 (2-for-1) AAM/Christopher Hogwood 
          (with Op.6) (period instruments).  E4757693, Op.3, Op.4, Op.8 and Op.9 
          is now download only. 
           Virgin 6484082 (4 CDs budget-price) Europa Galante/Fabio 
          Biondi (with Op.8) (period instruments).  See review. 
          
           DG 4713172 (9-CD budget-price) English Concert/Trevor 
          Pinnock (with Op.10 and various concertos) (period instruments)   
          
          
           La Stravaganza, Violin Concertos, Op.4 (2-for-1): 
          Double Decca 4448212 ASMF/Neville Marriner (modern instruments).  
          Channel CCS19598 or CCSSA19503 (SACD) (2-for-1): Rachel Podger with 
          L’Arte dei Suonatori – review. 
          
          (see also Op.3) 
          
           Violin Concertos, Op.6: if you bought the Decca Oiseau-Lyre 
          Baroque Era 50-set when I recommended it, the AAM/Christopher 
          Hogwood recording is included there, with The Four Seasons, etc. 
          (4786753, around £130).  Volume 2 of that set (25 CDs) is no longer 
          available to download. 
          
           Il Cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione, Violin 
          and oboe concertos, Op.8 (including The Four Seasons, Op.8/1-4): 
          Linn CKD365 (2-for-1) Pavlo Beznosiuk with Avison Ensemble – review 
          – Download 
          News 2011/2. 
          (for Fabio Biondi and Christopher Hogwood see Op.3) 
          
           La Cetra, Violin Concertos, Op.9: Channel CCSSA34212 
          (effectively 2-for-1) Rachel Podger with Holland Baroque Society (period 
          instruments).  Recording of the Month: Download 
          Roundup June 2012/1 
           Double Decca E4481102 (2-for-1) ASMF/Neville Marriner 
          (modern instruments) 
           Erato 5615942 (budget-price, download only): Monica Hugget; 
          Raglan Baroque Players/Nicholas Kraemer (period instruments) 
          (for Christopher Hogwood see Op.3) 
          
           Flute Concertos, Op.10 – see Op.3 for 9-CD DG box set. 
          
          
           For the Op.11 and Op.12 concertos the only serious alternatives 
          are immured in a 20-CD or a 28-CD box set. 
          
          CD20-CD22: the complete Oboe Concertos, with Pier Luigi Fabretti 
          (oboe), also available separately on 94654, 3 CDs, around £10.  Johan 
          van Veen recommended this set despite the doubts about the authenticity 
          of some of the concertos – review.  
          Some of these performances are duplicates of those in the Op.7, Op.8 
          and Op.11 collections. 
          
          CD23-CD26: the complete Cello Concertos, with Francesco Galligioni 
          (cello), also available separately on 95082, 4 CDs, around £11.  I’ve 
          dipped into these via Qobuz and found them not only more complete than 
          the performances on CD13-14 of the older set but also preferable in 
          performance terms. 
          
          The new Brilliant set also contains a performance directed by Guglielmo 
          of the opera Ottone in Villa (CDs 54-55, also available 
          separately 94105, 2 CDs around £8.50).  Bargain of the Month – review.  
          The pdf document referred to above contains the Italian text; there’s 
          no translation, but that’s preferable to the eclassical.com download 
          of the alternative Naïve recording: at $24.23 it’s less expensive than 
          the CDs but it comes without any booklet (OP30493 – review).  
          There’s a third recording, on Chandos (CHAN0614 – 2 CDs or download 
          in mp3 or lossless, with pdf booklet, from theclassicalshop.net).  
          I plan to compare these three recordings in a forthcoming edition of 
          Download News. 
          
          It’s only recently that Vivaldi’s operas have been recorded but there’s 
          now a great deal more where the Naïve recording came from.  If Ottone 
          in Villa and Il Teuzzone (below) have given you a taste for 
          more, however, you may first wish to try out a recital of arias from 
          various Vivaldi operas beautifully sung by Emma Kirkby with the Brandenburg 
          Consort and Roy Goodman (Hyperion Helios CDH55279 – still available 
          from some dealers for around £6.50 or download from hyperion-records.co.uk 
          for £7.99). 
          
          Philippe Jaroussky’s many admirers – I’m definitely one – should note 
          two Vivaldi recordings: Heroes contains virtuoso performances 
          of fifteen opera arias (Erato 3634142, mid-price).  Virtuoso Cantatas 
          offers far better performances of the secular cantatas RV670, 671, 674, 
          676 and 677 than are to be found in the Brilliant box – see below for 
          the weak links in the set – plus two operas arias (Erato 5457212, mid-price). 
          
          
          If the recordings by L’Arte dell’Arco in the Brilliant set appeal, there’s 
          more from them in the form of a set of Six Violin Concertos for Anna 
          Maria on CPO 7770782. 
          
          The other recordings which are new to the 66-CD set: 
          
          CD27-CD29: new recordings of Concerti da Camera, or Concertos 
          for Small Ensemble performed by Collegium Pro Musica, including Federico 
          Guglielmo and other members of L’Arte dell’Arco, also available separately 
          on 94332, 3 CDs for around £10.  I dipped into this set as streamed 
          from Qobuz 
          and enjoyed it, but please note that the download comes without booklet 
          and costs as much as the CDs.  My colleague Johan van Veen reviewed 
          this on his own web-site; I completely endorse his assessment of 
          it as ‘a very pleasant and compelling recording of some of Vivaldi’s 
          finest music’.  It’s a shame that the original single-CD set from Il 
          Giardino Armonico was not also included, even though it would entail 
          duplication – I could gladly have substituted it for some of the vocal 
          recordings on the later discs common to both sets. 
          
          Two other recordings of these chamber concertos are worth mentioning.  
          The collection of Seven Concertos performed by a distinguished 
          team including Marion Verbruggen – review 
          – is no longer available, as it used to be, as a superb bargain but 
          it’s well worth paying $14.62 to download from eclassical.com 
          (mp3 and lossless, but no booklet).   Another very fine collection from 
          Chandos Baroque Players opens with RV95, La Pastorella, which 
          gives the collection its title.  (CDH55102 – still available from some 
          dealers for around £6.50, or download from hyperion-records.co.uk, 
          with pdf booklet).  
          
          CD38: Bassoon Concertos (Roberto Giaccaglia (bassoon) Ensemble 
          Respighi) 
          
          CD39: Flute Concertos (Modo Antiquo – see below, CD31) 
          
          CD43: Recorder Sonatas (Accademia del Ricercare – see below, 
          CD46). 
          
          CD47: Oboe Sonatas (Ensemble J.M. Anciuti – also available on 
          94417 – 
          review by Johan van Veen).  I streamed this, with booklet, from 
          Qobuz 
          and enjoyed it but the download is over-priced at £10.79 when the CD 
          costs around £6.50. 
          
          CD48: Recorder Sonatas (Collegium pro Musica – also available 
          on 95077).  Actually by Nicholas de Chédeville (1705-1782), Il 
          Pastor Fido, Op.13/1-6, though previously attributed to Vivaldi. 
          
          
          By coincidence BIS have just released a very well-filled (85-minute) 
          SACD and 24-bit download of Sonata No.6 from this collection, together 
          with music by Philidor, Dieupart, Marais, Hotteterre, Blavet and Chéron, 
          performed by Dan Laurin (recorder), Anna Paradiso (harpsichord) and 
          Domen Marincic (cello) (BIS-SACD-2185). Look out for review of the download 
          from emusic.com 
          in a forthcoming Download News. 
          
          CD49: Flute Sonatas (Collegium pro Musica).  Two of the Chédeville 
          sonatas from Il Pastor Fido are repeated from CD48, with the 
          flute replacing the recorder. 
          
          CD56-CD57: Juditha Triumphans (dramatic oratorio) directed 
          by Federico Maria Sardelli – also available as Tactus TC672290 (2 full-price 
          CDs).  For a stand-alone version you might prefer the Hyperion 2-CD 
          set from The King’s Consort (CDA67281/2 – CDs or download with pdf booklet 
          from hyperion-records.co.uk, 
          also available as CD4 of the Complete Sacred Music, CDS44171/81, 
          11 CDs or download from hyperion-records.co.uk).  
          Review.  
          The Hyperion collection is particularly valuable because the performances 
          are greatly superior to those contained on CD59-CD61 and CD65-CD66 of 
          the Brilliant box (below).  For a stand-alone version there’s also a 
          Naïve recording directed by Alessandro de Marchi, either complete on 
          two CDs (OP30314 – review) 
          or on a single-CD set of highlights (OP30450). 
          
          CD58: Ostro picta, Spina armata; Introduction and Gloria, 
          RV589; Magnificat in g minor, RV611 (Venice version) directed 
          by Ludwig Güttler: available separately as 95022.  This transfer from 
          a Berlin Classics recording offers a better performance of Ostro 
          picta than you’ll find on CD65 – one of my few serious disappointments: 
          see below – but there’s a better performance still of both works, with 
          Nisi Dominus, on Hyperion CDA66849 – Volume 10 of the 11-CD set 
          which I’ve already recommended (above).  For the Naïve recording of 
          both settings of the Gloria, RV588 and 589, see below. 
          
          CD62-CD64: recordings of Cantatas for soprano and basso continuo, 
          licensed from Tactus, some of which replace less satisfactory recordings 
          by the Netherlands Bach Consortium, though some of the latter have been 
          retained (see below). 
          
          Several recordings which I especially liked remain from the earlier 
          set: 
          
          CD37: Concerti per archi (string concertos, from CD20) 
          performed by Concerto Italiano and Rinaldo Alessandrini, who have since 
          made many highly recommendable Vivaldi recordings.  See also below for 
          the three further selections of these string concertos and additional 
          suggestions. 
          
          CD42: Opera Overtures performed by Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria 
          Sardelli (as per original CD11). 
          
          CD40: Concerti per molti istromenti (Modo Antiqua, from 
          CD25).  For another collection of these concertos with several instruments 
          there’s an excellent selection from The King’s Consort on Hyperion Helios 
          CDH55439 – review 
          – Download 
          Roundup August 2012/2. The whole Helios series has recently risen 
          from budget to full price but dealers may still have this for around 
          £6.50; otherwise it can be downloaded for £7.99 from hyperion-records.co.uk.  
          Only two concertos overlap with the Modo Antiqua recording. 
          
          CD44-CD45: stylish performances of the Cello Sonatas recorded 
          by Jaap ter Linden (cello) with Lars Ulrik Mortensen (cello) and Judith-Maria 
          Becker (cello) (from CD27-CD28, available separately on 93567, 2 CDs, 
          around £8.50).  Another inexpensive and very worthwhile set of the cello 
          sonatas comes on a Hyperion Dyad two-for-one set from David Watkin and 
          members of the King’s Consort (CDD22065 – around £10.50 on CD or download 
          for £8.99, with pdf booklet, from hyperion-records.co.uk).  
          Review. 
          
          
          Most of the other transfers from the earlier set at least offer decent 
          accounts: 
          
          CD30: Otto concerti solenni from La Magnifica Comunità 
          (from CD5).  Stylish performances of attractive music, well recorded.  
          Of some of these concertos there is no other current recording. 
          
          CD31: An eclectic and attractive collection of seven Recorder Concertos 
          from Erik Bosgraaf and Cordevento, available separately on 93804. 
          
          
          By design or good fortune there is no overlap with the new set of Flute 
          Concertos on CD39, performed by Federico Maria Sardelli (transverse 
          flute) with Modo Antiqua.   The full-price Tactus original of this recording 
          is available separately, minus RV783; I listened to this as streamed 
          from Qobuz, 
          with booklet.  (TC672202). 
          
          I’m surprised to see that the very enjoyable set of Flute and Recorder 
          Concertos on Harmonia Mundi 2-for-1 HMX2907340/41, with Janet See (flute) 
          and Marion Verbrüggen (recorder), the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra 
          and Nicholas McGegan is now download only, available at budget price 
          from Presto.  
          There’s some overlap with the recordings in the Brilliant box but I 
          recommend it as an inexpensive adjunct.  Stream from Qobuz 
          but the download there is too expensive. 
          
          CD32-CD34: Concertos and Sinfonias for Strings (Budapest 
          Strings/Béla Bánfalvi, from CD7-CD9).  Though performed on modern instruments, 
          these are stylish accounts, well recorded.  The playing and/or the recording, 
          licensed from Nuova Era, is a little heavier than we have become accustomed 
          to, but I didn’t find that a major problem.  I would, however, commend 
          to your attention some alternatives: 
          
          Chandos have three volumes of Concertos for strings, performed on period 
          instruments by Collegium 90 and Simon Standage.  I won’t list the details 
          because you can follow them up on the Chandos website by clicking on 
          the catalogue number: CHAN0647 
          – review 
          –  CHAN0668 
          and CHAN0687 
          – review.  
          If you wish to download them, the Chandos page will take you to the 
          appropriate equivalent at theclassicalshop.net. 
          
          RV130 (al santo sepolcro) in particular pops in many collections, 
          including another Chandos recording of works for soprano and orchestra 
          (CHAN0714 – see below).  It also features on an enjoyable selection 
          of concertos for strings performed by L’Arte dei Suonatori (BIS-CD-1845 
          –  review  – DL 
          Roundup February 2012/1).   For fans of 24-bit sound it can be downloaded 
          from eclassical.com 
          for $12.94, with pdf booklet: also available for $9.25 in mp3 and 16-bit. 
          
          
          If you like the Concertos for Strings as performed by Concerto Italiano 
          and Rinaldo Alessandrini on CD37, as I believe you will, there are further 
          recordings by them of these works on Naïve OP30377 – Download 
          News 2013/11 – and 30554 – review.  
          Both can be downloaded from eclassical.com – here 
          and here 
          – or purchased on CD.  Following the eclassical.com links will show 
          you the contents of each album but there’s no booklet with either. 
          
          CD41 contains the same mixed batch of two Mandolin Concertos 
          and the Cello Sonatas, RV42, 44 and 45, with Viola de Hoogh (cello) 
          as on the earlier CD26.  It’s rather an odd choice when superior performances 
          of all the cello sonatas are available on CD44-45 and RV460 is included 
          with the complete oboe concertos and the Mandolin Concerto RV425 also 
          appears on CD35. 
          
          CD46: Sonatas and Trios for flute(s) and continuo (Conserto Musico, 
          from CD29).  These arrangements, some made by other composers, are supplement 
          by an extra set performed with recorder(s) by Accademia del Ricercare 
          on CD43, attractive performances which I sampled from Qobuz, 
          with booklet, though I can’t recommend downloading for £10.79 when the 
          CD can be found for around £6.50 (94173 – review). 
          
          
          CD50: Bach’s organ transcriptions of Vivaldi concertos in stylish 
          performances by Elena Barshai, though her own arrangements of some of 
          them and the chosen registration are a little heavy for my taste.  The 
          earlier set didn’t specify the organ: it is, in fact, that of Arlesheim 
          Cathedral in Switzerland. 
          
          CDE51-CD53: Il Teuzzone (from CD30-CD32).  We now have 
          the Italian text on the pdf download to which I have referred above: 
          there’s no translation but there’s a fairly detailed online synopsis 
          from Stanford.  For a stand-alone recommendation I’d prefer the 
          Naïve recording conducted by Jordi Savall (OP30513 – review).  
          That can be downloaded from eclassical.com 
          for a very reasonable $28.86: no booklet but the Brilliant pdf with 
          the Italian text is free to all comers.  Stream from classicsonline.com, 
          again without booklet, but the download is overpriced at £23.99 when 
          the CDs are on sale for only a few pence more.  (Even less, at £19.40 
          on special offer as I write). 
          
          If  Qobuz  are still offering the Naïve recording, with booklet, for £5.49 
          when you read this – surely a mistake? – snap it up. 
          
          Inevitably such a large collection contains some disappointments, carried 
          over from the earlier box.  My only serious misgivings concern the contributions 
          towards the end of the set from the Netherlands Bach Collegium directed 
          by Jan Leusink.  Several of these from the earlier set have been replaced 
          with much better performances from Modo Antiquo, licensed from Tactus, 
          on CD62-CD64.  Even so, for Lungi dal vago volto (CD64), Emma 
          Kirkby with Tafelmusik and Jean Lamon is preferable.  (Hyperion Helios 
          CDH55190, with In turbato mare, Magnificat, RV610, and 
          three concertos – from hyperion-records.co.uk, 
          CD or download).  The CD is available only from the Hyperion Archive 
          Service. 
          
          Recordings of In turbato mare seem vulnerable to deletion – not 
          fault of the music, I should add, though Johan van Veen was not impressed 
          by the singing: the DG Archiv recording Amor Sacro, which contains 
          it plus In furore iustissimæ iræ, Nullo in mundo pax sincera 
          and Sum in medio tempestatum is now download only.  (Simone Kermes; 
          Venice Baroque Orchestra/Andrea Marcon – review) 
          
          
          At best the remaining Bach Collegium recordings are rough and ready 
          but CDs 65-66 (39-40 of the older set) are disastrous, with both soprano 
          and alto soloists, especially the latter, over-parted in these cantatas.  
          I must have been in a very generous mood when I wrote that you would 
          not be seriously disappointed with Leusink’s team. 
          
          Leusink and his team also contribute the Gloria, RV588 and Stabat 
          Mater (CD 59), Dixit Dominus and Nisi Dominus (CD 
          60) and the Magnificat in g minor (CD 61) as per CDs 36-38 of 
          the older set.  Here, too, the solo singing requires much greater tolerance 
          than I indicated in my earlier review.  
          
          That rules less than 10% of the set out of court but it does mean that 
          you should look to supplement the box from other sources.  For the Gloria 
          there is a wide range of choice to suit all tastes but I particularly 
          like Rinaldo Alessandrini’s vigorous performance with Concerto Italiano 
          on Naïve OP30485, coupled with the other Gloria, RV588.  Download 
          from eclassical.com, 
          mp3 and lossless, but no booklet.  That also includes a much better 
          performance of Ostro picta, armata spina than you will find in 
          the Brilliant box.  There’s also a recent recording of the Gloria 
          and Magnificat, with Lauda Jerusalem and Lætatus sum, 
          from Hervé Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel on Alpha 222.  I recommended 
          that from an mp3 preview in 
		Download 
          News 2015/11; it’s now available in better sound (mp3 and lossless) 
          from eclassical.com. 
          
          Better still, why not go for the Hyperion complete 11-CD set of Vivaldi’s 
          Sacred Music (CDS44171/81, £34 on CD from hyperion-records.co.uk, 
          where it’s also available to download in mp3 or flac).  Individual discs 
          from this set are available from the Archive Service or as downloads 
          but the complete set is almost as notable a bargain as the Brilliant 
          box. 
          
          I’ve already mentioned two Philippe Jaroussky Vivaldi albums; there’s 
          another for his fans to consider: the admirable Pietà contains 
          Stabat Mater, Longe mala, Claræ stellæ, Domine Deus from the 
          Gloria and Salve Regina (Erato 2564625810 – review 
          – review).  
          The Naïve recording on which he and Marie-Nicole Lemieux sing Nisi 
          Dominus and Stabat Mater has been reissued at mid-price (NC40019 
          – review 
          of earlier release).  The short playing time (42 minutes) means 
          that the eclassical.com 
          download is especially good value at $7.53 (mp3 and 16-bit lossless) 
          or $11.29 (24-bit) but there’s no booklet. 
          
          Catherine Bott offers very fine performances of In furore iustissimæ 
          iræ and Laudate pueri Dominum on mid-price Chandos CHAN0714.  
          She’s accompanied by the Purcell Quartet who add three chamber concertos.  
          If you are thinking of downloading, the eclassical.com 
          lossless version, at $9.98 is slightly less expensive than theclassicalshop.net 
          (£7.99); it comes without booklet but that’s available to all comers 
          from Chandos. 
          
          66 CDs may look like a lot of Vivaldi to take in, especially for beginners.  
          It took my generation years to look beyond The Four Seasons but 
          I have suggested some areas in which the Brilliant box could usefully 
          be supplemented in various places.  You wouldn’t, however, need to buy 
          more than a handful of the alternatives to find yourself approaching 
          the price of the Brilliant box.  Just be warned that Vivaldi can be 
          addictive and that if you go for this budget-price set you may find 
          yourself dipping into some of the other collections mentioned and others 
          which have been reviewed on MusicWeb-International and in my regular 
          Download News. 
          
          As I was converting this review for the web I was listening to another 
          very tempting recent offering: The Young Vivaldi – concertos 
          and trio sonatas performed by Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli (Sony/Deutsche 
          Harmonia Mundi 8875127852). I listened as streamed from Qobuz but their 
          download is uncompetitive at £10.29 when the CD can be found for 
          less – target price £9.99.
          
          Brian Wilson 
          
          Details: 
          
          CD1-CD2 [43:25 + 43:38] 
          Trio Sonatas Op.1 (12 Suonate da camera a Tre, Due Violini e Violone 
          o Cimbalo,Venice, 1705) 
          
          CD3-CD4 [48:30 + 43:17] 
          Violin Sonatas Op.2 (12 Sonate a Violino e Basso per il Cembalo, 
          Venice, 1709) 
          
          CD5-CD6 [46:57 + 47:15] 
          L’estro armonico, Concertos Op.3 (12 Concerti Consacrati all’Altezza 
          Reale di Ferdinando III Gran Principe di Toscana, (Amsterdam, 1711) 
          
          
          CD7-CD8 [46:22 + 50:19] 
          La stravaganza, Violin Concertos Op.4 (12 Concerti Consacrati 
          a Sua Eccellenza il Sig. Vettor Delfino Nobile Veneto, Amsterdam, 
          1716) 
          
          CD9 [48:31] 
          Violin Sonatas and Trios Op.5 (6 Sonate, quattro a Violino Solo e 
          Basso e due a Due Violini e Basso Continuo,Amsterdam, 1716) 
          
          CD10 [47:36] 
          Violin Concertos Op.6 (6 Concerti à Cinque Stromenti, Tre Violini, 
          Alto Viola e Basso Continuo, Amsterdam, 1719) 
          
          CD11-CD12 [47:06 + 42:49] 
          Concertos Op.7 (12 Concerti à Cinque Stromenti, Amsterdam, 1720) 
          
          
          CD13-CD14 [54:49 + 53:56] 
          Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione, Concertos Op.8 (12 
          Concerti a 4 e 5 e Consacrati alI’Illustrissimo Signor Venceslao 
          Conte di Morzin, Amsterdam, 1725) 
          
          CD15-CD16 [53:24 + 52:37] 
          La cetra, Violin Concertos Op.9 (12 Concerti Consacrati alla 
          Sacra Cesarea, Cattolica Real Maestà di Carlo VI Imperatore, Amsterdam, 
          1727) 
          
          CD17 [] 
          Flute Concertos Op.10 (6 Concerti a Flauto Traverso, Violino Primo 
          e Secondo, Alto Viola, Organo e Violoncello, Amsterdam, 1729) 
          
          CD18 [64:25] 
          Concertos Op.11 (6 Concerti a Violino Principale, Violino Primo e 
          Secondo, Alto Viola, Organo e Violoncello, Amsterdam, 1729) 
          
          CD19 [54:08] 
          Concertos Op.12 (6 Concerti a Violino Principale, Violino Primo e 
          Secondo, Alto Viola, Organo e Violoncello, Amsterdam, 1729) 
          
          CD1-CD19: L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo (violin) 
          
          CD20-CD22 [47:43 + 67:23 + 66:09] 
          Complete Oboe Concertos: the printed concertos with strings and basso 
          continuo (CD20), the Turin autographs with strings and basso continuo 
          (CD21) and The European Collections with strings and basso continuo 
          (CD22) 
          Pier Luigi Fabretti (oboe); L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          
          CD23-CD26 [65:38 + 55:25 + 52:54 + 59:54] 
          Complete Cello Concertos with strings and basso continuo 
          Francesco Galligioni (cello); L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          
          CD27-CD29 [49:47 + 49:32 + 45:34] 
          Concertos for small ensemble 
          Collegium pro Musica 
          
          CD30 [69:41] 
          Otto concerti solenni, RV197, 85 Anh, 155, 316, 185, 247, 292 
          and 134. 
          La Magnifica Comunità/Enrico Casazza (violin) 
          
          CD31 [66:06] 
          Recorder Concertos, RV444, 439, 98, 105, 441-443 
          Erik Bosgraaf (recorders); Cordevento 
          
          CD32-CD33 [50:56 + 60:44] 
          Concertos and Sinfonias for strings with basso continuo, RV110, 118, 
          123, 127, 136, 142, 145, 156, 159 and 161 (CD32); RV112, 113, 121, 128, 
          130 ( al santo sepolcro), 132, 133, 149, 152 and 164 
          Budapest Strings/Béla Bánfalvi 
          
          CD35 [68:51] 
          Concertos for mandolin, RV535 and 425 
          Concertos for lute, RV85, 82 and 540 
          Concerto for harpsichord and strings, RV780 
          Mauro Squillante and Davide Rebuffa (mandolins); Diego Cantalupi (archlute); 
          Pietro Prosser (baroque lute); Mario Paladin (viola d’amore); Nicola 
          Reniero (harpsichord) 
          L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          
          CD36 [60:40] 
          Concertos ‘con organo obbligato’, RV541, 542, 779, 766, 767, 554 
          Roberto Loreggian (organ) 
          L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          
          CD37 [56:11] 
          Concertos for strings, RV154, 367, 578, 124, 302 and 552 
          Fabio Biondi, Adrian Chamorro (solo violins); Maurizio Naddeo (RV578 
          solo cello) 
          Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini 
          
          CD38 [69:17] 
          Bassoon Concertos, RV497, 472, 495, 499, 484, 498 and 495 
          Roberto Giaccaglia (bassoon); Ensemble Respighi 
          
          CD39 [65:16] 
          Flute Concertos with strings and basso continuo, RV427, 533, 429, 440, 
          436, 431 and 783 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli (transverse flute) 
          
          CD40 [53:29] 
          Concertos for multiple instruments with strings and basso continuo, 
          RV562a, 576 (per Sua Altezza Reale di Sassonia), 566, 538 and 
          569 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli 
          
          CD41 [57:32] 
          Concerto in G RV532 for 2 mandolins, strings and organ continuo 
          Concerto in C RV425 for mandolin, strings and organ continuo 
          Marten Scheffer, Rens van der Zalm (mandolins) 
          Malipiero Ensemble/Krijn Koetsveld 
          Sonata in B flat RV45 for cello and basso continuo 
          Sonata in g minor RV42 for cello and basso continuo 
          Sonata in a minor RV44 for cello and basso continuo 
          Viola de Hoogh (cello); Mike Fentross (theorbo); Krijn Koetsveld (organ) 
          
          
          CD42 [67:12] 
          Opera Overtures 
          La fida ninfa (Tempesta di mare) RV714 
          Giustino RV717 
          Il Tamerlano (Il Bajazet) RV703 
          L’Olimpiade  RV725 
          La Senna festeggiante RV693 – Sinfonia and Ouverture 
          Griselda RV718 
          Teuzzone RV736 
          Ottone in villa RV729 
          Farnace RV711 
          L’incoronazione di Dario RV719 
          Armida al campo d’Egitto RV699 
          Dorilla in Tempe RV709 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli 
          
          CD43 [64:24] 
          Sonatas and Trios arr. for recorder(s) mostly from violin sonatas and 
          trios, RV72, 78, 35, 74, 61, 67, 46 and 63 (La Follia) 
          Accademia del Ricercare/Pietro Busca 
          
          CD44-CD45 [62:59 + 48:12] 
          Complete Cello Sonatas with basso continuo 
          Jaap ter Linden (cello, (Giovanni Grancino, Milan, 1703) 
          Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord) 
          Judith-Maria Becker (cello) 
          
          CD46 [64:18] 
          Sonatas and Trios for flute(s), RV48, 80 and 89 
          Jean Jacques ROUSSEAU (1712–1778) Le printemps de Vivaldi 
          arrangé pour une flûte sans accompagnement  in D 
          Sonatas RV51, 50 and 800 
          Conserto Musico [Mario Folena (transverse flute); Roberto Loreggian 
          (harpsichord/organ); 
          Stefania Marusi (transverse flute II); Francesco Baroni (harpsichord) 
          
          
          CD47 [57:38] 
          Oboe Sonatas RV28, 48, 34, 51, 53 and 58 
          Ensemble J.M. Anciuti [Paolo Pollastri (baroque oboe); Gaetano Nasillo 
          (cello); Alberto Guerra (baroque bassoon); Giovanna Losco (harpsichord)] 
          
          
          CD48 [62:40] 
          Nicolas CHÉDEVILLE (1705–1782) 
          Il pastor fido, Op.13: 6 sonatas for recorder and basso continuo, 
          formerly attributed to Vivaldi 
          Collegium Pro Musica [Stefano Bagliano (recorder); Alberto Pisani (cello); 
          Fabiano Martignago (bass recorder); Andrea Coen (harpsichord/organ)] 
          
          
          CD49 [63:45] 
          Nicolas CHÉDEVILLE (1705–1782) 
          Il Pastor Fido, Op.13/6 and 3 
          VIVALDI Sonatas RV86, 47, 438 and 103 
          Collegium Pro Musica [Stefano Bagliano (flute & director); Ruggero 
          Vartolo (oboe); Paolo 
          Tognon (bassoon); Alberto Pisani (cello); Pier Mario Grosso (harpsichord); 
          Giangiacomo Pinardi (theorbo)] 
          
          CD50 [69:55] 
          Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) 
          Organ transcriptions of Vivaldi concertos, BWV976, 592 (after a concerto 
          by Ernst), 972, 975, 978, 593, 973 
          Elena Barshai (organ of Arlesheim Cathedral, Switzerland) 
          
          CD51-CD53 [75:45 + 59:50 + 63:24] 
          Teuzzone RV736: Dramma per musica in three acts (1719) 
          
          Mauro Pagano (Troncone and Argonte); Maurizia Barazzoni (Teuzzone); 
          Fernanda Piccini (Zidiana); Susanna Bortolanei (Zelinda); Angelo Manzotti 
          (Cino); Marcello Lippi (Sivenio); Andrea Favari (Egaro) 
          Orchestra dell’Opera Barocca del Teatro di Guastalla/Sandro Volta 
          
          CD54-CD55 [72:08 + 67:52] 
          Ottone in villa RV729: Dramma per musica in three acts 
          (1713) 
          Maria Laura Martorana (Cleonilla); Tuva Semmingsen (Ottone, Emperor 
          of Rome); Florin Cezar Ouatu (Caio Silio); Luca Dordolo (Decio); Marina 
          Bartoli (Tullia); 
          L’Arte dell’Arco/Federico Guglielmo 
          
          CD56-CD57 [62:43 + 69:10] 
          Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie RV644: Oratorio 
          in two parts. 
          Barbara Di Castri (Juditha); Lucia Sciannimanico (Holofernes); Nicki 
          Kennedy (Vagaus; Holofernes’s (widow); Alessandra Rossi (Abra); Rowena 
          Anketell (Ozias); Coro da Camera Italiano 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli 
          
          CD58  [50:48] 
          Ostro picta, armata spina RV642 
          Introduction to Gloria RV589 
          Gloria in D RV589 
          Magnificat in g minor RV611 (Venice version) 
          Andrea Ihle, Elisabeth Wilke (soprano); Annette Markert (contralto) 
          
          Hallenser Madrigalisten 
          Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Güttler 
          
          CD59  [50:16] 
          Introduction to Gloria RV588 
          Gloria in D RV588 
          Stabat Mater RV621 
          Marjon Strijk (soprano); Syste Bulwalda (alto); Martinus Leusink (tenor); 
          Jeroen Assink (bass) 
          Holland Boys’ Choir 
          Netherlands Bach Collegium/Pieter Jan Leusink 
          
          CD60  [52:32] 
          Ascende laeta RV635 
          Introduction to Dixit Dominus 
          Dixit Dominus RV595 (Psalm 109) 
          Nisi Dominus RV608 (Psalm 127) 
          Marjon Strijk (soprano); Syste Bulwalda (alto); Martinus Leusink (tenor); 
          Bas Ramselaar (bass) 
          Holland Boys’ Choir 
          Netherlands Bach Collegium/Pieter Jan Leusink 
          
          CD61 [42:02] 
          Magnificat in g minor RV610 (Original version) 
          Laudate Dominum RV606 (Psalm 116) 
          In exitu Israel RV604 (Psalm 113) 
          Credidi propter quod RV605 (Psalm 115) 
          Amor, hai vinto RV683 (Cantata for alto) 
          Marjon Strijk (soprano); Syste Bulwalda (alto); Martinus Leusink tenor; 
          Bas Ramselaar (bass); Holland Boys’ Choir 
          Netherlands Bach Collegium/Pieter Jan Leusink 
          
          CD62 [52:22] 
          Cantatas for soprano and basso continuo 
          Amor, hai vinto RV651 
          Elvira, anima mia RV654 
          Nel partir da te, mio caro RV661 
          T’intendo, sì mio cor RV668 
          Rossana Bertini soprano 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli 
          
          CD63 [54:39] 
          Cantatas for soprano and basso continuo 
          Si levi dal pensier RV665 
          Usignoletto bello RV796 
          Del suo natio rigore RV653 
          Era la notte quando i suoi splendori RV655 
          Il povero mio cor RV658 
          Nicki Kennedy (soprano, RV 653, 665 & 796); Elena Cecchi Fedi (soprano,RV 
          655, 658 & 669) 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli 
          
          CD64 [69:54] 
          Cantatas for soprano and basso continuo 
          Geme l’onda che parte dal fonte RV657 
          Indarno cerca la tortorella RV659 
          La farfalletta s’aggira al lume RV660 
          Lungi dal vago volto RV680 
          Vengo a voi, luci adorate RV682 
          Tremori al braccio RV799 
          Elena Cecchi Fedi (soprano, RV 657, 659 & 660); Nicki Kennedy (soprano, 
          RV 680, 682 & 799) 
          Modo Antiquo/Federico Maria Sardelli director 
          
          CD65 [62:45] 
          Cantatas for soprano and alto 
          Ostro picta, armata spina RV642 
          Alla caccia dell’alme e de’cori RV670 
          Par che tardo il costume RV662 
          All’ombra di sospetto RV678 
          Laudate pueri Dominum RV600 (Psalm 112) 
          Marjon Strijk (soprano); Sytse Buwalda (alto) 
          Netherlands Bach Collegium/Pieter Jan Leusink 
          
          CD66 [58:24] 
          Cantatas for soprano and alto 
          Che giova il sospirar, povero core RV679 
          Care selve, amici prati RV671 
          Sì, sì, luci adorate RV666 
          Perfidissimo cor! Iniquo fato ! RV674 
          Perché son molli RV681 
          Marjon Strijk (soprano); Sytse Buwalda (alto) 
          Netherlands Bach Collegium/Pieter Jan Leusink