Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Alessandro Marcello, Giovanni Benedetto Platti :: Vivaldi, Marcello, Platti: Concertos for Winds

Evergreen Vivaldi beautifully played

Mike Birman | Brooklyn, New York USA | 10/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Seon record label specialized in historically informed performances from many of the ascending stars of that movement. It's ten year run of 1970-1980 represents the first popular flowering of the use of "authentic performance" methods. Budget priced with splendid music often beautifully recorded, Sony brought back the series in the late 90's. Now that the major labels have decided that Classical Music is uncommercial, the Seon series has been allowed to wither and die. Most, if not all, are out of print. When you see any still available, grab them. This one is an especially valuable recording.



Vivaldi assembled the Op.10 Flute Concertos in 1725 from his vast supply of scores going back to 1703. He selected five concertos, some for recorder, others for flute. Adding a new concerto, he rescored the five with the solos assigned to the transverse flute and the accompaniments redesigned for contemporary string orchestra. They were published in Amsterdam in 1728 as his Op.10 Flute Concertos. Frans Bruggen chooses to use the original, extremely colorful, Venetian versions of these scores. He even uses the recorder for the first two concertos. They are an earthy, joyful pair of concertos: effervescent and suffused with Italian sunshine, they bounce along merrily led by Bruggen's splendid playing. The final four concertos, played on transverse flute, are equally as good. Two Baroque oboe concertos by Marcello and Platti, beautifully played by oboist Bruce Haynes, round out the splendid collection. Bruggen conducts the Orchestra of the 18th Century. They are lithe and lean, playing with restraint, allowing the soloists to shine. Yet they sound as joyful and impressively alive as the two soloists. This is wonderful music. The sound is stunningly immediate for a recording made in 1979. Nearly 80 minutes of music at a bargain price. Take advantage of this opportunity before it vanishes into the mist along with those first, heady days of the period performance era.



Mike Birman"

Exceptional

Ralphus | Goyang, Gynggi-Do Korea (South) | 06/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This truly is a wonderful version of the Vivaldi op.10 concertos. Bruggen plays the recorder and transverse flute with such verve, variety of articulation, and sensitive shading and nuance of sound.



Special mention should go also to bassoonist, Danny Bond, whose funky, garrulous bass lines are a real stand-out feature.



This is by no means a dull period performance; rather, it's full of life and bustle. The way the whole orchestra digs into the final movement of the second concerto, for example, should be heard to be believed.



The recording quality is excellent, too. There is nothing to suggest it was recorded so long ago.



Personally, I'm not so fond of the two oboe offerings on the disc, but this is by no means any reason to not purchase this recording that, in a perfect world, would be given legendary status."