Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Neville Marriner, Christopher Hogwood :: Vivaldi: L'estro Armonico

Luminous, unaffected performance

Mr. J. S. Stallick | Brighton, United Kingdom | 09/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reading the other reviewer's text I couldn't believe it was the same recording I listened to. I'm pretty critical where Baroque performance is concerned (I'm an ex-pro cellist) but I've always loved ASMF's L'Estro Armonico. It has tremendous atmosphere (recording acoustic helps) and luminosity. There is a lightness mostly throughout with beautiful solo contributions especially from Alan Loveday and Carmel Kaine (who also feature in Vivaldi's La Stravaganza with ASMF-a 'must-listen!'). The continuo especially is varied and always interesting. All in all it strikes a balance between Period instrument fanaticism and the sweet tone of a modern ensemble."

Neville Marriner + Christopher Hogwood=Masterpiece of beauty

J. Wong | Aberdeen, WA United States | 09/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I "have" this album. My CD, which has worn out, was recorded with just Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music. I, too had read the first review of two years ago. After listening online to excerpts, I conclude that Hogwood greatly influenced this recording. This rendition is smooth, yet as exciting, if not more so, than the Four Seasons. This album goes with fine wine, a drive in the country or just to paper over the tedium/confusion of everyday living.I must refute the first reviewer's claim that Biondi does a better job. That recording falls more into the category of schizophrenic, manic depressive disorder. It mixes erratic tempos with disturbingly enormous dynamic changes, e.g. from pianissimo to fortissimo like a bad imitator of Mahler (which is not as bad as it sounds). You feel neither relaxed nor excited about the music--Lord knows I've tried, having listened to Biondi many times hoping that I'd see the light--there is no light on that recording. Biondi's album makes you feel as if you've taken a ride on a carriage with a wild horse at the fore and you can barely keep it from running over a cliff and smashing you to bits--as if the ensemble wanted to finish the dang piece ASAP and get the heck outta Dodge. Maybe they had hot dates.THIS album, I want to buy five copies of, so that if each lasts about five years, I'll have enough for 25 years."

Vivaldi, "the way we were"

danielinyaracuy | San Felipe, Yaracuy Venezuela | 08/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is interesting to observe that this recording has become a document. The lush strings of the Academy directed by Neville Marriner were the last standard of the orchestra baroque playing before the "authentic" "ancient" and "what not" performance standards definitely took over in the 80ies. With time my ear recognized the virtues and enjoyed the performances in older instruments and methods. But some of Vivaldi's music, like most of J.S. Bach, has that magic ability to be played as well on ancient instruments or on the modern electronic gizmos of today. It is strange today to listen to this version of L'Estro Armonico, one of the very greatest works of the baroque. Strange and yet very satisfying, relaxing and even nurturing. A little bit like a Madeleine of Proust. Perhaps there is room again for that lush sound that introduced so many of us to the classics when we were young.By all means, a must have for any serious or casual collector.Note: the Academy was at its peak then."