Viva Vivaldi!

[Que]

I cannot compare the RV numbers now but Giardino Armonico recorded 4 discs for Teldec, presumeably with all? concerti da camera which have been re-issued several times and should be affordable. (There was also an earlier disc for some italian label (probably Nuova era) re-issued by Brilliant in a 3-disc Vivaldi collection.) These are among my favorite Vivaldi recordings.

Check!

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I'm myself not familiar with these recordings. A comparison of the RV nrs - always a tiresome and confusing chore with Vivaldi recordings - showed that the Armonico set contains all but three of the concertos included in the Brilliant set I discussed (and some more). That latter set does appear to contain new recordings (2011) and not the Nuova Era recordings.

Q

[Jo498]

Yes, this is probably the current incarnation, I have four single discs.
Sorry if I was unclear: The Brilliant set you mentioned is of course newish and has nothing to do with Giardino Armonico.

I meant a much older 3-disc Vivaldi set with a rather hodge-podge collection (but very enjoyable recordings and some not so well-known pieces). The first two discs are from the "early days" of Concerto Italiano and Giardino Armonico (that's the 2nd disc with a selection of concerti da camera) and licensed from Tactus and Nuova Era. I am not sure about the Musica ad Rhenum recordings; they might be Brilliant's own.

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[Que]

Sorry if I was unclear: The Brilliant set you mentioned is of course newish and has nothing to do with Giardino Armonico.

No need, it was perfectly  clear to me!

Now, since we're on the topic of Vivaldi recordings on Brilliant. Does anyone know this one, which is kind of on my wish list...? 

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[Que]

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I forgot all about posting a request here about this recording. I recently got this, so a short note.

But first thanks to SonicMan (David) for posting the link to the review by Johan van Veen on MusicWeb:

Early last November, I posted on the 3-CD set of Vivaldi's Oboe Concertos on period instruments w/ Pier Luigi Fabretti on a Baroque oboe like the one shown below - the recording has come up recently in several threads, so thought some might be interested in seeing the oboe - listening to the first two discs and enjoying - the recorded sound is excellent & Fabretti in top form - MusicWeb review HERE, for those who may be interested.  Dave

Since Johan van Veen discusses the background of the music extensively, I'll limit myself to the performances.
An aspect of primary importance is that they feature the smallest musical forces possible: 1st violin I (Frederico Guglielmo), 2nd violin II, viola, cello, violine and continuo (harpsichord/organ, Roberto Lorregian). So, a chamber ensemble of six... The result are intimate, vibrant and off-the-cuff performances. An appealing approach IMO, but perhaps not for everyone since this also implies a less "plush" or luxurious soundstage...

Talking of soundstage, my listening to the set starting off a bit uncomfortably.... The balance between the oboe and the rest of the ensemble wasn't right, with too much prominence for the oboe which was right in my face. Fortunately after the 1st concerto things turned for the better, they must have corrected this during the recording process. Oboist Pier Luigi Fabretti has impeccable credentials as current and past positions include 1st oboe at Les Arts Florissants, Concerto Köln and Academia Montis Regalis. And he is at top form, as SonicMan stated. His performances are lively, expressive and engaging. All in al really excellent! But ultimately he is not Alfredo Bernardini.. whose tone and phrasing I find awe inspiring... (Another Baroque oboist I greatly admire is Epoca Barocca's Alessandro Piqué)
But no matter, Fabretti's excellent playing, combined with the zest of the rest of the ensemble make this a superb overall set IMO.

As for the competition, the field is not terribly crowded. As usual, figuring out what is what in Vivaldi is a laborious task.. 
Of course there is the oboe concertos disc by Alfredo Bernardini and his ensemble Zefiro in Naïve's Vivaldi series - that covers 7 of the 21 concertos included in the "complete" set, which incidentally includes 4 works that are considered "spurious". RV451 from the Bernardini/ Zefiro disc is also, together with RV461, as a setting for oboe and fagotto included in the disc Bernardini recording with Hans Peter Westermann ("Concerti per fagotto e oboe"). RV454 is included in another disc by ensemble Zefiro: "Concerti per vari instrumenti".

Then there are some unknown recordings to me....
Italian Tactus also seems to have recorded a complete survey of three discs by oboists Paolo Grazia and Roberto Valeriani accompanied by the (period instruments) Ensemble Respighi. (Read a not too favourable comment on the net...) And there seems to be an elusive complete set by Thomas Indermühle, Jacques Tys and I Solisti di Perugia on the Japanese label Camerata.

As for single discs Paul Dombrecht made a Vivaldi recording (Pascacaille). I have also seen mentioned (also here, by Gordo, if I remember correctly) a recent disc by Simone Toni and his ensemble Silete Vent! (DHM).

Just in case that wasn't quite clear: the set on Brilliant is wholeheartedly recommended!

Q

[HIPster]

Really nice write-up here, Que!

Thanks.  I have added this to the wishlist.

How about the same group's Four Seasons?  Are you familiar with it?

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Looks very interesting to me.   

[Gurn Blanston]

Really nice write-up here, Que!

Thanks.  I have added this to the wishlist.

How about the same group's Four Seasons?  Are you familiar with it?

[asin]B0001WGEIO[/asin]

Looks very interesting to me.   

Oh, hey, I have that disk! It really is quite fine, I bought it with no hopes one way or the other, but was very pleasantly surprised.   0:)  The Guido is very interesting too, it shows how the tradition of this sort of representational music had some precedent.

[Que]

Really nice write-up here, Que!

Thanks.  I have added this to the wishlist.

How about the same group's Four Seasons?  Are you familiar with it?

Looks very interesting to me.   

It does look interesting indeed!
What piques my interest is the fact that it is apparently an alternative version from Dresden with the addition of winds.
I already have an awesome volume in the Naïve series with music from Dresden - also with the for Italian music unusual setting for winds .
One of the extra special from tbe series IMO.

And Gurn's endorsement provides further encouragement. 

Q

PS The Dresden disc I mentioned:

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[king ubu]

gave this one a first listen a few days ago and enjoyed it very much:

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and it seems this fine one, released last year, hasn't been mentioned yet:

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[Gurn Blanston]

gave this one a first listen a few days ago and enjoyed it very much:

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and it seems this fine one, released last year, hasn't been mentioned yet:

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That first one has been on my wishlist for a little while, I really ought to drop the hammer on it, esp. since you seem to like it.

I have Bayer/Gli incogniti's '4 Seasons' and it is excellent, I doubt I will hesitate when I see this disk next time at Amazon...

[Gurn Blanston]

Don't remember if I ever posted this one here:

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Pine is a wonderful player, and her viola d'amore has the most gorgeously intimate sound you can imagine. I have 2 or 3 other versions of these same works, including Biondi, but this one tops them all for overall pathetic affect. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Check!

[asin]B00CSBNOWA[/asin]

I'm myself not familiar with these recordings. A comparison of the RV nrs - always a tiresome and confusing chore with Vivaldi recordings - showed that the Armonico set contains all but three of the concertos included in the Brilliant set I discussed (and some more). That latter set does appear to contain new recordings (2011) and not the Nuova Era recordings.

Q

I have these disks as singles with the old 'Das Alte Werke' covers. They are excellent, releasing them as a box was a nice move on their part, it gives you a chance to hear these great recordings!

[Florestan]

I have Bayer/Gli incogniti's '4 Seasons' and it is excellent

Seconded. Probably the most spirited, cheerful, frolicsome and joyous version I´ve ever heard.

Don't remember if I ever posted this one here:

[asin]B012SOT88U[/asin]

Pine is a wonderful player, and her viola d'amore has the most gorgeously intimate sound you can imagine. I have 2 or 3 other versions of these same works, including Biondi, but this one tops them all for overall pathetic affect. 

That looks mighty tasty.

[North Star]

Seconded. Probably the most spirited, cheerful, frolicsome and joyous version I´ve ever heard.

I haven't heard Beyer's recording, but that description sure suits Midori Seiler & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin's recording too (also included in the treasure trove 'Lumières', sans the Rebel).
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[Gurn Blanston]

Seconded. Probably the most spirited, cheerful, frolicsome and joyous version I´ve ever heard.



That looks mighty tasty.

Less filling, tastes great!

I haven't heard Beyer's recording, but that description sure suits Midori Seiler & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin's recording too (also included in the treasure trove 'Lumières', sans the Rebel).
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I'm rather much a Seiler fan, so there is a lot of appeal there. The original with the Rebel would be the way to go for me, Rebel has some fine music, virtually unheard! 

[North Star]

I'm rather much a Seiler fan, so there is a lot of appeal there. The original with the Rebel would be the way to go for me, Rebel has some fine music, virtually unheard! 

Yes indeed, and it's a shame they left out the Rebel - a fine piece - from the box.

[king ubu]

Don't remember if I ever posted this one here:

[asin]B012SOT88U[/asin]

Pine is a wonderful player, and her viola d'amore has the most gorgeously intimate sound you can imagine. I have 2 or 3 other versions of these same works, including Biondi, but this one tops them all for overall pathetic affect. 

Help! There is so much Vivaldi around, and so many releases that look really, really good!

I have these disks as singles with the old 'Das Alte Werke' covers. They are excellent, releasing them as a box was a nice move on their part, it gives you a chance to hear these great recordings!

I have the single disc reissues (the one with yellow frames and pics ... aslope, is that the right word?) - this and a pair of others kept me for going for the very attractively priced Giardino Armonica anthology box (actually not sure if the content of all four volumes is their in its entirety - I knew but forgot, some might be missing - this here: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B000FQITXE/).

I also love the Seiler seasons ... only have it in the "Lumières" box, so afraid I don't know the Rebel and am unlikely going to buy it.

[Gurn Blanston]

Help! There is so much Vivaldi around, and so many releases that look really, really good!
I have the single disc reissues (the one with yellow frames and pics ... aslope, is that the right word?) - this and a pair of others kept me for going for the very attractively priced Giardino Armonica anthology box (actually not sure if the content of all four volumes is their in its entirety - I knew but forgot, some might be missing - this here: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B000FQITXE/).

I also love the Seiler seasons ... only have it in the "Lumières" box, so afraid I don't know the Rebel and am unlikely going to buy it.

  I know, I almost hate to contemplate getting back into Vivaldi again, and just for that reason. Like that Oboe box they were discussing earlier. I would get that in the Brilliant Vivaldi Edition, but what the hell, it's $125 at Amazon, hoping it will come down to Brilliant price point soon. Not to mention the multi-disk Naive boxes coming out, and my old favorites Biondi and Carmignola still releasing things... a man could get hurt this way!   

[king ubu]

I started piling up all those naïve releases a while ago (without yet listening to much of the music, I'm afraid) - the boxes first (five, or even six? just one or two discs duplicated between them all, I did skip those compiling discs by certain conductors/musicians though, with those there'd have been overlap, I think), then also adding some single discs, including at least two of the oboe concerto ones from the series (Vol. 4 is where they're at - and I guess that may be it, then).

So I'm likely to take a pass at *that* one.

[Wakefield]

[On Vivaldi, of course]

... I do have ~90% of the known works though, so I do him justice de facto. You're right though, and I think that somehow, people have been made to feel inferior in their tastes for liking his music. That didn't work on me though.  0:)

Do you have this one, Gurn?

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I have thought you need it to keep your average up (as it includes some world premiers).   

Music and playing are just exceptional; a true bit of happiness.

Highly recommended. 

[Gurn Blanston]

[On Vivaldi, of course]

Do you have this one, Gurn?

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I have thought you need it to keep your average up (as it includes some world premiers).   

Music and playing are just exceptional; a true bit of happiness.

Highly recommended. 

Hey, Gordo,

Yes, that is a reissue, actually. I have the original, either that, or else I have a different disk called "The Young Vivaldi", I know it is a different cover, but I haven't compared the contents. I'll post it when I get home tonight. IIRC, it was really pretty impressive for a young man.