Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Nicholas McGegan, Trevor Pinnock :: Vivaldi: The Masterworks (40CD Box Set)

Focus on the Recordings

M. A. D. Winkler | Mexico City, Mexico | 07/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.



The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.



First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.



I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.





DISC 1:

Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.



DISC 2:

Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.



DISC 3:

The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.



DISC 4:

Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.



DISC 5:

A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.

Tracks 4, 6, 7 and the whole "La Notte" are extraordinary.



DISC 6:

Exquisitely recorded and performed by the Budapest Strings.



DISC 7:

Marvelous performance on the whole disc.

Tracks 22 & 24 are non-plus-ultra.



DISC 8:

Great performance too.

Suggested tracks: 7, 12, 15, 24



DISC 9:

To have an original baroque organ playing is a plus.

Solo strings are lacking in quality (for example: tracks 6 & 7).

Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15



DISC 10:

Despite being and ADD recording, the quality is fairly good. The cello is very well played.

Suggested tracks: 3, 4, 12

Excellent track: 13



DISC 11:

Same musical group and soloist as DISC 10. The contrabass is extremely distorted sometimes, and if you take into consideration that this is an ADD recording, it can get pretty bad. Some background noise is perceived.

Suggested tracks: 3, 6, 9



DISC 12:

The compositions are somewhat boring, either way the performance is plain decent.

Suggested tracks: 10, 12



DISC 13:

Good performance and sound quality.

Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7

Excellent track: 12



DISC 14:

Good performance and sound quality too.

Suggested tracks: 10, 14, 16

Excellent track: 5



DISC 15:

Badly mixed, the basoon is blocking the whole ensamble by being in the foreground.

The playing precision is lacking.

An AWEFUL thing about this recording is that you can hear the basson key-sticking with the instrument and the saliva. It's horrible.

Such a pity, the sound of the basson with other instruments can be pretty interesting.



DISC 16:

Violins sound a bit off tempo.

Suggested tracks: 4, 8



DISC 17:

Good sound quality and performance.

Suggested tracks: 1, 7, 9



DISC 18:

Despite being an old recording, it is a very welcome one.

The performance is very well above par. Tempo is fantastic.

The quality of the recording could have been better due to some string plucking that is heard and which can become bothersome.

These are some of Vivaldi's best know tunes.

Suggested tracks: 4, 6, 13

Excellent tracks: 1, 3



DISC 19:

Lively recording.

Track 6 is the same piece found in another disc in the collection, but with a better performance.



DISC 20:

By now you've heard all of this pieces before in the other discs. Nothing new here, nor better."

This is a fantastic deal!

David S. Brevner | Vancouver Canada | 02/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan at all of the Four Seasons you should love this music. I will admit right now that I am a classical music fan. I don't write or perform it. I am a novice listener. I have never taken any music lessons(though I am leaning in that direction) and certainly have not gone through any university music training. I started out in rock and roll but found classical as I got older and fell in love with it a few years ago.



With that context in mind I do hope I am able to recognize quality and this work is of the highest. It helps when you are starting with good ingredients in the first place. You can't bake great bread without great ingredients and Vivaldi's music library has some of the greatest musical ingredients of the last 300 years. They are very much the foundation for modern western culture and music. His talent is woven through what we are



The first 26 CDs are instrumental starting with the four seasons and working through many of the Master's many popular works. I will admit the four seasons are not the best interpretation I have heard but it is definitely acceptable. The rest of the music shows us many facets of the Baroque style and you can see themes emerging through some of the pieces that give us a 'fingerprint' of Vivaldi's style and the parameters of the stylistic leanings of the genre at the time. If you want to immerse yourself in 18th century music this is your chance



This music would be ideal for someone who owns a store and is looking for background music. With over 26 CDs of instrumental music alone you could have those constantly looping and you'd probably never get bored of them(OK I may be stretching it a little there). The reason is that the music does not leave a bad 'aftertaste' in your mind. It fits into the background as easily and naturally as it is to listen to it consciously in the foreground. If you are a fan of classical Baroque you don't usually need to be in the mood for this, it will adjust your mood to itself and Vivaldi's music is almost always of an uplifting sort if this collection is any indication. If you want something to listen to at your job 8 hours per day this is good for the mind and it would take you over a week to get through it if you listened to it every minute of every work day. You will also work without the worry of the music distracting your concentration. I find it enhances it when I'm working. I don't know how well this would work on school kids but teachers might want to try playing this during school time. You may create a few geniuses, we certainly could use more!



If you are looking for something to ease your sleep and oil your dreams I have put these CD's on in the background. Not only can I easily fall asleep when they are playing quietly in the background but it helps you sleep and you wake up in a very pleasant atmosphere if the music is still playing quietly when you wake(you probably would need to rip them to your MP3 player to do that). It's like napping at a classical music concert without the worry of being nudged by your spouse or offending the other concert goers with your snoring. That will be quite a unique experience for you and possibly give you some real sweet dreams. It has for me



So to wrap it up this is very intelligent, uplifting music that is great for your mind and your soul. It is definitely worth the purchase if you are a fan of the Four Seasons and the Baroque genre in my novice classical music fan's opinion"

Trojan Horse of Rejects

Music Teacher | Canada | 12/16/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what is implied with this masterworks set, it is far from a complete works set with redundant multiple renditions of secondary compositions. The set is missing many concertos, sonatas, and choral works. The Vivaldi box set consists of unusually poor recordings, and bad packaging. There is no booklet or key list to check for recordings, just 40 CDs in plain yellow packaging. I would not recommend this to anyone. My Vivaldi box set is just an expensive paperweight now."