Search - Antonio Vivaldi, La Serenissima, Robert Howarth :: Vivaldi: Music for the Chapel of the Pietà

Rare Gems

Andrew Judkins | 10/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adrian Chandler is the new Vivaldi star on the scene. He created his orchestra, La Serenissima, with the idea of preforming Vivaldi. It is a Vivaldi orchestra! Aside from that, Chandler is a music scholar and one of the best up-and-coming baroque violinists around. He has a snapping sense of rhythm that is unique. One of the goals of these artists is to record lesser known works that deserve exposure. That's pretty much the mantra of this CD, one of their best to date.

The opening violin concerto RV 292 is an odd one, and has a serious feel at times. It has a spontaneous approach that aligns it with Vivaldi circa La Stravaganza (1714). The simple yet clever violin solos also bring to mind early Vivaldi. A fugal movement is included which is outstanding.

The Laudate for soprano and strings (RV112) is a monumental work of 23 minutes and 10 movements. There is great variety here and demonstration of how well Vivaldi melds his vocal and string writing together.

The texture of the concerto for violin and organ (RV 542) is odd-Vivaldi treats the organ as a treble instrument, and it plays mostly what the violin does, while the left hand is free to play basso continuo. The effect is rather like a double concerto for some crazy wind instrument and violin. Despite this simple textural method, the material is some of Vivaldi's best. The opening tutti alone is so clever as to breeze the listener into some other world..

The violin concerto RV 212 is a fantastic document of the history of the violin. This work alone is worth the price of admission. It is in Vivaldi's early virtuoso style, a time when he invented the cadenza. A more famous work from this period is the `Il Grosso Mogul'. RV 212 contains (at least) three cadenzas, which Adrian Chandler tackles without the slightest hesitation. The last cadenza rockets into heights that require 12th position. This cadenza proves that Vivaldi was the leading violin virtuoso of the era, using such positions years before others. It also proves that the famous and fanciful-sounding Uffenbach quote about Vivaldi's playing is true. Chandler deserves much credit for bringing this work out of a scholarly cave by carefully reading through the damaged manuscript and bringing it to life for us in performance.

The Slave Regina for soprano, violin and strings (RV 617) is a smaller work than the psalm, but even more melodious. The violin and soprano duet that opens it is glowing and beautiful. There are more complex movements in the work, but none more effective. As a work it stands among with the best vocal/instrumental music of the time.

The final work is a fun curiosity. It is a concerto scored for violin, organ cello and strings(RV 554a). Another version is scored for violin oboe and organ. Here, Chandler connects a few lost dots to bring the cello version to life for us. The odd combination works well, and Vivaldi's mood is sublime, yet fun-loving. The performance of the finale could use a slightly quicker tempo and a sharper barb to the notes, but otherwise this last concerto is near-perfect music making. This CD is a fantastic group of rare musical gems. Keep up the great work Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima!"