Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani, Trevor Pinnock :: Mad about Vivaldi

The Red Priest how he should be played

David C. Rollyson | 12/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was given this CD many years ago, and to this day it has remained my favourite. Vivaldi's beautiful simplistic melodies in the largo movements and awe-inspiring scalar variations make his music a delight to listen to. Simon Standage's energetic performance of the famous allegro from spring, and the beautifully ornamented largo from the same concerto are a terrific opening. His amazing precision while playing the extremely difficult tempo impestuoso dell'estade (presto from summer), and the charming third movement from autumn are all played as I have never heard before. Perhaps the best of all is the largo from winter, which is played so beautifully, with amazing accuracy on the trills, and few ornaments to keep it sweetly simplistic are all true signs of genius. The flute concerto is a great choice to contrast the preceeding trumpet concerto's strength with the delicacy of a bird - a bullfinch if you please. Not to confuse delicacy with weakness, however. This piece is strong in its own right, within the arpeggios in the first movement and the mournful calling in the second are very powerful, but fightly and bird-like. The tone quality of the flautist, and the composer's own ability to mimic nature with a musical instrument make this piece a pleasure to listen to. The mandolin and lute concerti are beautiful as well, and they show Vivaldi's versatility on all instruments perfectly. They sound as if they are written by a guitarist, not a violin virtuoso. Listening to this you feel as if you were being serenaded by a Venetian gondelier. The largos are soothing and relaxing, and the allegros are bright and energetic. This recording does the Red Priest the full justice he deserves. His tremendous talent comes through, and complimented by the talent of the performers make this CD a worthy addition to anyone's collection, and I would highly reccomend you buy it."

Splendid selection, great performances

David C. Rollyson | 05/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent CD. Under the baton of Trevor Pinnock, the English Concert gives the best performance of the Four Seasons that I have ever heard...so alive and vibrant, the violins really "sing"! You only get part of this stunning Four Seasons and the opening of the Gloria(great singing and perfect tempo), but all of the other selections are the complete work. And what a glorious selection it is. I love the two guitar concertos(the Lute Concerto is played on guitar here). This CD really brings together one of the leading period instruments ensembles to perform Vivaldi(The English Concert) and one of the leading modern instruments ensembles(Academy of St. Martin in the Fields), so that you get both perspectives on this music. The "Bullfinch" Flute Concerto(played on "transverse" flute here) is particularly charming. A magnificent album. Go Mad About Vivaldi!"

Yeah Vivaldi

David C. Rollyson | Valdese, NC United States | 01/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered a replacement copy of this cd. I had gotten to many scratches to enjoy the music."