Viva Vivaldi!

[Kuhlau]

I could use some help from the knowledgeable types among you regarding what I presume are three recordings by Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi of The Four Seasons.

As far as I can discern, the first recording was on Naive, while the second appeared on Virgin Veritas in around 1998 (I think). There also appears to be a third recording of this work from 1993 by the same forces on Opus 111.

So my question is, are all three different?

Thanks in advance.

FK

[Coopmv]

This most recently purchased 18-CD Vivaldi's set by I Solisti Veneti and Claudio Scimone is a definitive set in my opinion.  I also have the 18-LP Vivaldi's set by I Musici on Philips.  I am maxed out on Vivaldi for the conceivable future ...

[Gurn Blanston]

I could use some help from the knowledgeable types among you regarding what I presume are three recordings by Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi of The Four Seasons.

As far as I can discern, the first recording was on Naive, while the second appeared on Virgin Veritas in around 1998 (I think). There also appears to be a third recording of this work from 1993 by the same forces on Opus 111.

So my question is, are all three different?

Thanks in advance.

FK

FK,
I have the Op 111 recording and the Virgin one. They are different. If you recall from long ago the thread I had on the 4 Seasons in the old forum (now accessible) you will find that the version I used there was the Op 111 one. I got the other one later on. The size of the forces is audibly larger on the Virgin version. The Op 111 version appears to be only a string quartet with a solo violin out front, which reflects my comments there that it was played as written (it is scored like that, 5 parts). Anyway, I prefer the barer version, but YMMV...

PS - Never heard the Naive, I would suspect that IT is a different version too, but I don't know.



----------------
Listening to:
Friedrich Gulda - Op 111 Sonata in c 2nd mvmt - Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

[Jay F]

I'll no doubt be shot down in flames, but I rather enjoy this recording of the Four Seasons

So do I. It's wonderful.

[Coopmv]

So do I. It's wonderful.

There is no reason to be bashful about this CD, which I find to be quite good even if the performance is in modern instruments.

[Que]

FK,
I have the Op 111 recording and the Virgin one. They are different. If you recall from long ago the thread I had on the 4 Seasons in the old forum (now accessible) you will find that the version I used there was the Op 111 one. I got the other one later on. The size of the forces is audibly larger on the Virgin version. The Op 111 version appears to be only a string quartet with a solo violin out front, which reflects my comments there that it was played as written (it is scored like that, 5 parts). Anyway, I prefer the barer version, but YMMV...

PS - Never heard the Naive, I would suspect that IT is a different version too, but I don't know.

And as far as Four Seasons, here is an entire thread from the old GMG that Gurn started.....and all 16 pages are worth the read:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,3958.0.html

Q

[Kuhlau]

Gurn, Que - I knew I could rely on you two to come up trumps.

Thanks for the clarification, Gurn. It seems that I didn't, after all, buy the version you recommended in that old thread, but the one on Virgin Veritas, instead. I'll have to look up the Opus 111 recording next.

Incidentally, I asked this question because I've just reviewed the Virgin recording for my blog, and I wanted to be sure I had the right cover image. The review will go live in the next couple of days.

FK

[Drasko]

As far as I can discern, the first recording was on Naive, while the second appeared on Virgin Veritas in around 1998 (I think). There also appears to be a third recording of this work from 1993 by the same forces on Opus 111.

So my question is, are all three different?

Naive took over Opus 111, I think, so that can be just a reissue. Opus 111 should be from 1991.

[jwinter]

This most recently purchased 18-CD Vivaldi's set by I Solisti Veneti and Claudio Scimone is a definitive set in my opinion.  I also have the 18-LP Vivaldi's set by I Musici on Philips.  I am maxed out on Vivaldi for the conceivable future ...

Oooh, that looks tempting.  My current faves for HIP Vivaldi are Carmignola & Marcon, and I also have a lot from Hogwood.  This forum is a dangerous place...

[Kuhlau]

Naive took over Opus 111, I think, so that can be just a reissue. Opus 111 should be from 1991.

Drasko, you remain a valuable encyclopedia of classical music knowledge. Thanks.

FK

[Que]

This most recently purchased 18-CD Vivaldi's set by I Solisti Veneti and Claudio Scimone is a definitive set in my opinion.  I also have the 18-LP Vivaldi's set by I Musici on Philips.  I am maxed out on Vivaldi for the conceivable future ...

Oooh, that looks tempting.  My current faves for HIP Vivaldi are Carmignola & Marcon, and I also have a lot from Hogwood.  This forum is a dangerous place...

I Solisti Veniti & I Musici ≠ HIP.... 0:)

Q

[Kuhlau]

Many thanks again to Gurn, Que and Drasko for their input earlier. My review of The Four Seasons as performed by Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi on Virgin Veritas is here.

FK

[Coopmv]

Oooh, that looks tempting.  My current faves for HIP Vivaldi are Carmignola & Marcon, and I also have a lot from Hogwood.  This forum is a dangerous place...

Carmignola was a member of the famed I Solisti Veneti.  I am not sure if the ensemble is still active, as its last conductor (and perhaps the founder) Claudio Scimone is in his 70's.  I attended a Mostly Mozart concert in NY by this ensemble almost ten years ago.  Well, the entire program was baroque and had nothing to do with Mozart.  What a treat that was ...

[Bulldog]

I tend to collect 10-20 versions of each of the masterpieces depending on whether there are that number of recordings out there that are worth collecting for that work, which include many of JS Bach works (both instrumental and vocal), Beethoven Symphonies and Piano Sonatas, Corelli 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Handel Messiah and Concerto Grossi Op. 6, Brahms Requiem, Tchaikovsky 5th and 6th, Vivaldi Four Seasons, etc. 

I must have a Vivaldi Four Seasons disc somewhere, but I'd be hard-pressed to produce it within an hour's time.  Whenever I want Vivaldi, which is never, there's always a steady dose of the guy on the local classical station in the morning.  The station's audience loves Vivaldi, guitar music, crossover and bite-sized pieces of long works.

[SonicMan46]

I must have a Vivaldi Four Seasons disc somewhere, but I'd be hard-pressed to produce it within an hour's time.  Whenever I want Vivaldi, which is never, there's always a steady dose of the guy on the local classical station in the morning.  The station's audience loves Vivaldi, guitar music, crossover and bite-sized pieces of long works.

Now Don, you're just 'teasing' us (are you part Irish, like me?  ) - some of us here, including me, enjoy the Red Priest from Venice - but for those who may be interested in the Four Seasons, don't stop w/ just those four works - these are just the opening pieces of a 12- concerto set of Vivaldi's Op. 8 Il Cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione; a recommendation is shown below, a 2-CD set w/ Biondi + Europa Galante; excellent bargain w/ 2 discs in a single-disc sized jewel box - 

[Antoine Marchand]

I totally agree with you, Dave: Don is in good mood  .

I have been considering "The Four Seasons" by Fasolis and his I Barocchisti. But I don't know how that recording compares with the clips that I have seen on You Tube.

BTW, what a damn gipsy is that Duilio Galfetti! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwSOZBZ6CbY

[Anne]

I have a VHS of Orlando Furioso sung by Marilyn Horne.

[Coopmv]

Now Don, you're just 'teasing' us (are you part Irish, like me?  ) - some of us here, including me, enjoy the Red Priest from Venice - but for those who may be interested in the Four Seasons, don't stop w/ just those four works - these are just the opening pieces of a 12- concerto set of Vivaldi's Op. 8 Il Cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione; a recommendation is shown below, a 2-CD set w/ Biondi + Europa Galante; excellent bargain w/ 2 discs in a single-disc sized jewel box - 

I have quite a few Vivaldi's CD's by Europa Galante and in fact attended a Mostly Mozart Festival concert given by the ensemble a number of years ago.  The ensemble had a level of virtuosity that was hard to find in the US.

[FideLeo]

The ensemble had a level of virtuosity that was hard to find in the US.

And that still IS hard to find there to this day.  Talking about virtuosity on baroque violins,
which one is the best period band in US at the moment?  

To stay strictly on topic here: did anyone mention the first Four Seasons using a violoncello
da spalla on the bass part?   B.c. is played on the harpsichord only, making this a very slim-
sounding Vivaldi concerto disc.

[Coopmv]

And that still IS hard to find there to this day.  Talking about virtuosity in baroque violin,
what is the best period band in US at the moment?  

To stay strictly on topic here: did anyone mention the first Four Seasons using a violoncello
da spalla on the bass part?   B.c. is played on the harpsichord only, making this a very slender-
sounding Vivaldi concerto disc.

I think Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra are the top two US baroque ensembles (Orpheus is really not exclusively baroque) in my book.  I do have a number of recordings by these two ensembles and that is about it as far as American baroque ensembles are concerned for me ...