Con in D, RV 234 'L'inquietudine': I. Allegro Molto
Con in D, RV 234 'L'inquietudine': II. Largo
Con in D, RV 234 'L'inquietudine': III. Allegro
Con in B flat, RV 579 'Concerto Funebre': I. Largo
Con in B flat, RV 579 'Concerto Funebre': II. Allegro Poco Poco
Con in B flat, RV 579 'Concerto Funebre': III. Adagio
Con in B flat, RV 579 'Concerto Funebre': IV. Allegro
Con in F, RV 570 'La Tempesta Di Mare': I. Allegro
Con in F, RV 570 'La Tempesta Di Mare': II. Largo
Con in F, RV 570 'La Tempesta Di Mare': III. Presto
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': I. Largo
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': II. Presto (Fantasmi)
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': III. Largo
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': IV. Presto
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': V. Largo (Il Sonno)
Con in g, RV 439 'La Notte': VI. Allegro
Con in A, RV 552 'Per Eco In Lontano': I. Allegro
Con in A, RV 552 'Per Eco In Lontano': II. Larghetto
Con in A, RV 552 'Per Eco In Lontano': III. Allegro
Con in E, RV 270 'Il Riposo - Per Il Natale': I. Allegro
Con in E, RV 270 'Il Riposo - Per Il Natale': II. Adagio
Con in E, RV 270 'Il Riposo - Per Il Natale': III. Allegro
Con in g, RV 531: I. Allegro
Con in g, RV 531: II. Largo
Con in g, RV 531: III. Allegro
You say your favorite Vivaldi passage is the Four Seasons summer storm? Well, here's a disc for you. Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante (known to many for their bestselling Seasons disc) focus on concerti con titoli, the ... more »titled concertos the Red Priest wrote that are full of inventive drama and expression. Writing for his student orchestra, the composer employed plenty of creativity in his instrumentation, and, as evidenced on a few tracks here, he wasn't beyond recycling motifs from his older works. But just give this exciting disc a listen. The Concerto funebre (RV 579) is sweet, yet somber; the six-movement La notte (RV 439) is weird and ominous; and the stormy seas of La tempesta di mare really come alive in Europa Galante's hands. Biondi and his ensemble never try to steal the show from these works; they let the music speak for itself. Some period-instrument groups sound a little ragged, but this one gets it just right and delivers a knockout, taut performance. A great disc for Baroque lovers. --Jason Verlinde« less
You say your favorite Vivaldi passage is the Four Seasons summer storm? Well, here's a disc for you. Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante (known to many for their bestselling Seasons disc) focus on concerti con titoli, the titled concertos the Red Priest wrote that are full of inventive drama and expression. Writing for his student orchestra, the composer employed plenty of creativity in his instrumentation, and, as evidenced on a few tracks here, he wasn't beyond recycling motifs from his older works. But just give this exciting disc a listen. The Concerto funebre (RV 579) is sweet, yet somber; the six-movement La notte (RV 439) is weird and ominous; and the stormy seas of La tempesta di mare really come alive in Europa Galante's hands. Biondi and his ensemble never try to steal the show from these works; they let the music speak for itself. Some period-instrument groups sound a little ragged, but this one gets it just right and delivers a knockout, taut performance. A great disc for Baroque lovers. --Jason Verlinde
"Vivaldi is played with excitement by Europa Galante, a string and woodwind orchestra 13 strong here. Some collections of Vivaldi concertos can sound a bit monotonous, but not this carefully selected group of emotively titled short pieces. Instrumentation is varied, the playing is enthusiastic and energetic as needed, and the strings really bite in the staccato "Sea Tempest," the waves slapping hard on the boat. The 6-movement "Night" is remarkably eerie and ghostly, particularly if you can cleanse your ears of all the chromatic pieces written since and try to listen with 18th century expectations. RV 234 is full of unsettling "Apprehension" no matter what later music you have heard, displaying a harried and rapidly modulated sense of harmonic uncertainty. The brief notes with the CD are a slightly strange mixture of English and untranslated Italiano. Fresh and well worth listening closely."
Lively vivaldi
G. Metcalf | United States | 11/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not a baroque expert as some of the other reviewers seem to be. I do listen to a lot of music and have heard much Vivaldi -- most frequently the Four Seasons warhorse from Opus 8. This Vivaldi is quite enjoyable, very bright and very well played, energetic and well-recorded. My personal favorite was the last work for two cellos. The slow movement is absolutely beautiful. RV 270 is also quite excellent. This is a worthwhile purchase. Sometimes when period groups play his music Vivaldi sounds mummified but not here. Recommended."
Biondi rulez...
D. Gammelgard | Falun, Sweden | 01/10/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I know I have been very negative in my other reviews of Biondi-cds. Actually, I almost take it back!
He is NOT an opera-conductor, period. But he IS a brilliant violinist! His playing in the Vivaldi concertos is just outstanding. The orchestra is also amazing. I really recommends this set of concertos to anyone not familiar with the Biondi legacy!"
Biondi does do it again with Vivaldi- Highly recommended!
D. Gammelgard | 12/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a relative novice at classical music and wanted a recording of Biondi playing and conducting Vivaldi other than The Four Seasons which I already had, and which I higly recommend as well, and even first, when I stumbled onto this one at this site. I don't really have a lot that I know how to say except that I think that this one is just beautiful too. Recommended for all Vivaldi lovers whether or not you're newcomers to classical and whether or not you think you like period performance practice-after hearing Biondi and L'Europa Galante, I don't see how you could not..."
HOT RECORDING
GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 03/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It has been said that Vivaldi's Violin Concerti can give one the impression that he wrote the same concerto about a 1000 times. Perhaps the reason for the aforesaid impression is that there are many recordings and/or performances that exhibit little imagination in the programming of the concertos or in the playing of same. In other words, they border on being rather boring with a feeling of repeativeness. This recording is the exception. Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante in this recording perform these concertos in a "hot" and most exciting manner that made me feel that I was hearing them for the very first time. I know that the programming of the disc also had a lot to do with me not getting bored while listening to this recording. Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante are an "original" instrumental group without even a hint of the astringency usually associated with "original" instruments. Their playing is rather sweet in the slow movements as it is certainly very vigorous in the fast movements with no "mouth puckering" bite! I really loved the concerto for two cellos; it is very richly textured and sonorous; plus Europa Galante plays it splendidly.
Believe me, I found this Vivaldi recording, for once, to be very exciting and a most enjoyable listening experience!
If you want to hear a "hot" recording of some Vivaldi at his best, buy this disc.
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1
