Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert :: Vivaldi Concertos

A Little More Vivaldi Please

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This budget-priced, slim paper-sleeved box set of various Vivaldi Concertos on the DG/Archiv label is quite excellent. Trevor Pinnock, directing from the harpsichord and organ, leads the English Concert (an all-star cast including Roy Goodman and Simon Standage, both of whom have graduated to the podium in recent years) in digital recordings from the late 80s. Since the track information is not abundantly clear above, allow me to mention that the first two discs of this set feature various Concertos, discs 3 & 4 contain the complete "L'estro amonico" op. 3, and CD5 six Flute Concertos op. 10. While I have never been a big fan of period-instrument recordings, there is nothing I can complain about here. The performances are warm, spirited, and thoroughly engaging, and certainly not academic. In fact, my only complaint is that there is not more to listen to. I popped this set in my 5-disc changer over the Holidays, and was disappointed to find it end so soon, being that four of the five CDs log in at the mid-50 minute mark and one only at a whopping 45:08. By my calculations, there is easily room for an additional two hours of material here! Alas, it is the only problem with an otherwise stellar set."

Yet Another Great One from Pinnock

Paul S. Rottenberg | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 03/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people still erroneously believe that Vivaldi's conceti all sound the same. What nonsense! If you still think this way, then what you need is this superb set to set you straight. Trevor Pinnock and his great English Consort perform some of the most tuneful and toe-tapping concerti of the Red Priest.In fact, this is a great release. Great sound. Excellent production all 'round. Bravo again to Pinnock and his band!"

Preeminent Vivaldi Performances - if only there were more!

James Rockhill | Michigan, USA | 06/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fabio Biondi and his Europa Galante has produced a goodly number of imaginative Vivaldi realizations, but the sound on his releases is variable (though never bad), and he takes liberties with the rhythm and phrasing, which, sometimes pull the music into directions far from what appears on the page, no matter how fascinating and musical the results may be. I enjoy Biondi's way with this music, but it is not the way I want to hear it most of the time.



Pinnock's performances, however, reveal the power, grace, and beauty of the music as written. They are lithe, rhythmically acute, and unfailingly delightful, his instrumentalists adding trills and other ornaments without pulling the music out of shape. It is a pity Pinnock did not produce more Vivaldi for Archiv.



Both approaches are valid, and I would not part with the performances of this music by either conductor; but it is to Pinnock's recordings that I return most often.



I purchased the recordings in this boxed set when Archiv first released all of them separately several years ago, and if I were to register one complaint with Archiv in issuing the present set it to question their failure to reissue all of Pinnock's Vivaldi recordings. The other concerti for diverse intruments are just as fine as those included in this set, and the reputedly fiery recording of Op. 4 "La Stravaganza" received such a limited release that many (including myself) never found a copy. It is about time Archiv issued another boxed set to complement this one."