Rinaldo Alessandrini writes in his long and interesting liner-notes
that Vivaldi research has identified 478 works bearing the title
Concerto. Since that was written the research has continued and we
are forever seeing premieres of yet another. Vivaldi was not alone in being
so prolific; Telemann was one such, and this has done a disservice to both
their reputations. In Vivaldi's case this is compounded by Stravinsky's
famous quip about him composing the same concerto multiple times. On the
other hand, as Alessandrini says, the variety of structural patterns and the
sheer fecundity of invention, make almost every ‘new’ work
different. There is very occasional note-spinning but more often there is
real originality from this most important of baroque composers. The present
disc contains three concertos I had not come across before and all were a
joy to hear.
This CD was first issued in 1988. The orchestral line-up of six
violins, two violas, cello, bass and harpsichord is interesting for what is
missing. Most recent Vivaldi discs have included various plucked strings,
theorbos and the like, as part of the continuo. This flavours the music
quite differently and not having them makes them sound just slightly
old-fashioned, if that is not an anachronistic comment. The current view of
'authenticity', what is sometimes called HIP (Historically Informed
Performance), is that Vivaldi would have expected a variety of continuo
sounds. Here we have just a cello and a harpsichord. Nonetheless, few
enthusiasts of the baroque are going to be disappointed in these lovely and
very vital accounts. The violins are together to the left, leaving the right
of the sound-picture to the more restrained lower strings. The principal
violin soloist in the solo and double concertos is none other than Fabio
Biondi, now much better known for his leadership of the magnificent baroque
orchestra Europa Galante. His great beauty of tone is a pleasure to hear.
The second soloist is the leader of Concerto Italiano Adrian Chamorro, also
a very accomplished player. I should note that Alessandrini directs from the
harpsichord. Those with large Vivaldi collections will undoubtedly have the
two concertos from Op.3
L'Estro Armonico and the one from Op.8
Il
Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Inventione. The other three are less
frequently recorded. This disc is rather short measure at six concertos -
most collections manage eight or nine, but if these particular works fill
gaps, or if you, like me, enjoy hearing different performances of familiar
works, it will give much pleasure.
The recording is completely acceptable without being outstanding or
particularly analytical. This is despite declaring the master to be 24 bit,
a fact that is of little relevance when presented with a standard 16 bit CD.
If the company really wants to make something of the higher resolution
master they would have to offer it on SACD or as a download. To my knowledge
they do not.
Dave Billinge
