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Vivaldi: The Complete Viola d'Amore Concertos / Pine, Ars Antigua

Vivaldi / Pine / Ars Antigua / Smith
Release Date: 09/11/2015 
Label:  Cedille Records   Catalog #: 159   Spars Code: n/a 
Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  David Douglass,  Matthew Cataldi,  Rachel Barton Pine,  Wendy Benner,   ... 
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 19 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews


The viola d’amore is a curious beast. It has extra strings (like the baryton) that exist for no purpose other than to provide resonance, producing a fuzzy timbral halo that sweetens the slightly nasal, husky tone of the instrument, rather like a sort of mild continuous vibrato. When played with perfect intonation such as we might expect from Rachel Barton Pine, the result is captivatingly mellow and expressive, even in virtuoso passages. Vivaldi composed eight concertos for viola d’amore, and here they all are, smartly gathered together and performed to the hilt.

Although Vivaldi limited himself tonally in these works (to D, F, and A, with four in D minor), the instrument’s unusual Read more tunings, combined with inventive scoring, ensure variety and contrast. The Concerto in F major pits the viola d’amore against a wind ensemble of oboes, horns, and bassoon, with the oboes and horns muted. I’m not sure what a muted baroque oboe is, but they sound lovely here and the horns also never turn gnarly–they really do complement the timbre of the viola d’amore. There’s also a double concerto, RV 540, for viola d’amore and lute, with the superb Hopkinson Smith on hand to partner Barton Pine.

The players of Ars Antigua accompany with evident relish, although as usual with today’s period instrument groups the strings could use some natural vibrato in the slow movements. Leaving it out or minimizing it the way they do is neither stylish nor “authentic”, but when the playing itself is so pointed and in tune it matters very little. The fact that the sonics are drop-dead gorgeous and the balances absolutely perfect also counts for a lot. If you thought that Vivaldi all sounds the same, consider this release as a welcome corrective.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in D major, RV 392 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  David Douglass (Violin), Matthew Cataldi (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin),
Wendy Benner (Violin), Lori Ashikawa (Violin), Dave Moss (Viola)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Venue:    
Length: 9 Minutes 12 Secs. 
2.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in D minor, RV 393 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  David Douglass (Violin), Matthew Cataldi (Violin), Wendy Benner (Violin),
Lori Ashikawa (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin), Dave Moss (Viola)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Venue:    
Length: 8 Minutes 28 Secs. 
3.
Chamber Concerto for Viola d'Amore, 2 Horns, 2 Oboes and Bassoon in F major, RV 97 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Allison Nyquist (Violin), Isabelle Rozendaal (Violin), Julia Marion (Bassoon),
Pascal Innocenti (Violin), Sarah Huebsch (Oboe), Priscilla Herreid (Oboe),
Elizabeth Hagen (Viola), Emi Tanabe (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Length: 10 Minutes 40 Secs. 
4.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in D minor, RV 394 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  David Douglass (Violin), Matthew Cataldi (Violin), Wendy Benner (Violin),
Lori Ashikawa (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin), Dave Moss (Viola)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Venue:    
Length: 9 Minutes 11 Secs. 
5.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in D minor, RV 395 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Dave Moss (Viola), Matthew Cataldi (Violin), Wendy Benner (Violin),
Lori Ashikawa (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin), David Douglass (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Venue:  Nicholas Hall at the Music Institute of 
Length: 9 Minutes 11 Secs. 
6.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in A major, RV 396 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Allison Nyquist (Violin), Isabelle Rozendaal (Violin), Pascal Innocenti (Violin),
Elizabeth Hagen (Viola), Emi Tanabe (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Length: 10 Minutes 5 Secs. 
7.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore in A minor, RV 397 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Allison Nyquist (Violin), Isabelle Rozendaal (Violin), Pascal Innocenti (Violin),
Elizabeth Hagen (Viola), Emi Tanabe (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Length: 9 Minutes 25 Secs. 
8.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore and Lute in D minor, RV 540 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Allison Nyquist (Violin), Isabelle Rozendaal (Violin), Pascal Innocenti (Violin),
Elizabeth Hagen (Viola), Emi Tanabe (Violin), Rachel Barton Pine (Violin),
Hopkinson Smith (Lute)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ars Antigua
Period: Baroque 
Written: Venice, Italy 
 Length: 12 Minutes 5 Secs. 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Just Excellent! August 4, 2016 By L. Wilborn (Richwood, TX) See All My Reviews "This is a very engaging album of unique rarity, and I've listened to it many times because it is just so good. The recorded sound and performances are of the highest order - just excellent. Highly recommended." Report Abuse
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