Search - Various :: Greatest Hits: Vivaldi

Great starting point, but not much else.

Bank of America | Houston, TX | 03/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being a Vivaldi and Albinoni fan myself, many of my CD collections include many from these two composers. I was once new to this composer and this CD is a great way to to be introduced to the wonderful works that this once neglected genius has written. As one can see from the tracklist, it includes famed pieces such as the Four Seasons. In addition to the Four Seasons,this CD also includes Gloria, a genera that Vivaldi is not so famous for but nonetheless a magnificant track to listen. In short, as a (starter's kit) to Vivaldi, this is one of if not the best CD to have in one's collection. The only complain that I have about this CD is that it contains some movements of certain concertos rather than the whole concerto and thus as a later collection, this CD would probably not be a good buy. As a starting (being a first or second)CD to Vivaldi however, this is the CD to get. In addition, the booklet contains a historical timeline of around the period that Vivaldi lived which strengths my opinion that this CD is best targeted for a novince listener that knows almost nothing of Vivaldi's life rather than an experienced listener that knows somewhat of his life. Tracks I recomend are of course the Four Seasons, but keep in mind that each season on this CD is performed by a different ensemble, the guitar concerto and the flute concerto (the flute concerto is incomplete in this CD). Five stars would have been given solely on the basis of variety of the CD, but overall not very homogenous (ie., way too many performers in this CD-does not give the listener a chance a acclumate to a certain ensemble's style). My recommendation for anyone who is relatively new to Vivaldi is to buy this CD and if you like it, then branch out from here. If not, at least you can say that you own a Vivaldi CD. Thanks."