Notes and Editorial Reviews
Choosing Vivaldi recordings is like buying cheese: you do it by the pound. This mid-size (7 CD) box contains 55 concertos, including The Four Seasons (but not the rest of Op. 8), L’estro armonico, La stravaganza, the Six Flute Concertos of Op. 10, and a selection of well-chosen, miscellaneous works. The biggest treat, for me at least, is the Concerto RV558 “con molti stromenti,” for an ensemble consisting of two recorders, two chalumeaux, two violins “in tromba marina” (whatever that means), two mandolins, two theorbos, cello, strings and continuo. It’s delightfully wacky. Alfredo Casella arranged it for modern orchestra and Leonard Bernstein made an excellent recording of it for Sony.
The performances here also are generally
Read more
excellent: lively, enthusiastic, very well played, and very “historically informed.” Pinnock doesn’t attack the music in the way of Fabio Biondi or Il giardino armonico, nor do the period strings have the timbral sweetness of modern chamber orchestras such as I musici (whose vibrato happens to be perfectly authentic), but there’s no questioning the general musicality and sensitivity of the approach. After all, Vivaldi’s music is not exactly oozing passion, and the fine solo playing from the likes of Simon Standage (violin), Nigel North (lute), and Lisa Beznosiuk (flute) ensures that the music never sounds “cookie-cutter.” If the size of the package suits, then by all means, get this set.
-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Violin in E major, Op. 8 no 1/RV 269 "Primavera" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1725; Venice, Italy
2.
Concerto for Violin in G minor, Op. 8 no 2/RV 315 "L'estate" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Trevor Pinnock (Harpsichord),
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Venice, Italy
3.
Concerto for Violin in F major, Op. 8 no 3/RV 293 "L'autunno" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Trevor Pinnock (Harpsichord),
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Venice, Italy
4.
Concerto for Violin in F minor, Op. 8 no 4/RV 297 "L'inverno" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin),
Trevor Pinnock (Harpsichord)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Venice, Italy
5.
Concertos (4) for Violin, Op. 8 no 1-4 "Four seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Venice, Italy
6.
Sinfonia for Strings in B minor, RV 169 "al Santo Sepolcro" by Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
7.
Concerto for Flute in F major, Op. 10 no 1/RV 433 "La tempesta di mare" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
8.
Concerto for Flute in G minor, Op. 10 no 2/RV 439 "La notte" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
9.
Concerto for Flute in D major, Op. 10 no 3/RV 428 "Il gardellino" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
10.
Concerto for Flute in G major, Op. 10 no 4/RV 435 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
11.
Concerto for Flute in F major, Op. 10 no 5/RV 434 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
12.
Concerto for Flute in G major, Op. 10 no 6/RV 437 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1728; Venice, Italy
13.
Concerto for Violin in B flat major, Op. 4 no 1/RV 383a by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 46 Secs.
14.
Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 4 no 2/RV 279 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 10 Minutes 21 Secs.
15.
Concerto for Violin in G major, Op. 4 no 3/RV 301 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 28 Secs.
16.
Concerto for Violin in A minor, Op. 4 no 4/RV 357 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 26 Secs.
17.
Concerto for Violin in A major, RV 347 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 8 Minutes 47 Secs.
18.
Concerto for Violin in G minor, Op. 4 no 6/RV 316a by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 50 Secs.
19.
Concerto for Violin in C major, Op. 4 no 7/RV 185 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 8 Minutes 6 Secs.
20.
Concerto for Violin in D minor, Op. 4 no 8/RV 249 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 10 Secs.
21.
Concerto for Violin in F major, Op. 4 no 9/RV 284 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 6 Minutes 52 Secs.
22.
Concerto for Violin in C minor, Op. 4 no 10/RV 196 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 7 Minutes 44 Secs.
23.
Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 4 no 11/RV 204 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 02/1990
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 6 Minutes 31 Secs.
24.
Concerto for Violin in G major, Op. 4 no 12/RV 298 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1989
Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
Length: 9 Minutes 46 Secs.
25.
Concerto for Strings in G major, RV 151 "Alla rustica" by Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
26.
Concerto for Oboe and Violin in B flat major, RV 548 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin),
David Reichenberg (Oboe)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
27.
Concerto for 2 Violins in G major, RV 516 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Elizabeth Wilcock (Violin),
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
28.
Concerto for 2 Mandolins in G major by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Robin Jeffrey (Mandolin),
James Tyler (Mandolin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
29.
Concerto in C major, RV 558 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin),
Elizabeth Wilcock (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
30.
Concerto for Oboe in A minor, RV 461 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
David Reichenberg (Oboe)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
31.
Concerto for Strings in A major, RV 159 by Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 5 Minutes 0 Secs.
32.
Concerto for Violin in E major, RV 271 "L'amoroso" by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 9 Minutes 0 Secs.
33.
Concerto for Bassoon in E minor, RV 484 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Milan Turkovic (Bassoon)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 12 Minutes 0 Secs.
34.
Concerto for Viola d'Amore and Lute in D minor, RV 540 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Nigel North (Lute),
Roy Goodman (Viola d'amore)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 11 Minutes 0 Secs.
35.
Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon in G major, RV 545 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Milan Turkovic (Bassoon),
David Reichenberg (Oboe)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 10 Minutes 0 Secs.
36.
Concerto for Flute in G major, RV 436 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Lisa Beznosiuk (Flute)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 05/1986
Venue: St John's Church, Smith Square, London
Length: 9 Minutes 0 Secs.
37.
Concerto for Strings in G minor, RV 156 by Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 5 Minutes 46 Secs.
38.
Concerto for Oboe in C major, Op. 8 no 12/RV 449 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Paul Goodwin (Oboe)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1725; Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 9 Minutes 7 Secs.
39.
Concerto for Bassoon in F major, RV 485 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Alberto Grazzi (Bassoon)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 9 Minutes 42 Secs.
40.
Concerto for Strings in B flat major, RV 166 by Antonio Vivaldi
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 4 Minutes 59 Secs.
41.
Concerto for Violin, 2 Oboes, 2 Recorders and Bassoon in G minor, RV 577 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Catherine Latham (Recorder),
Peter Hanson (Violin),
Lorraine Wood (Oboe),
Alberto Grazzi (Bassoon),
Peter Holtslag (Recorder),
Paul Goodwin (Oboe)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 9 Minutes 23 Secs.
42.
Concerto for Piccolo in C major, RV 444 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Peter Holtslag (Recorder)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 10 Minutes 5 Secs.
43.
Concerto for 2 Violins and 2 Cellos in G major, RV 575 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
David Watkin (Cello),
Walter Reiter (Violin),
Peter Hanson (Violin),
Jane Coe (Cello)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: Venice, Italy
Date of Recording: 11/1993
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London
Length: 9 Minutes 48 Secs.
44.
L'estro armonico, Op. 3 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:
Simon Standage (Violin),
Micaela Comberti (Violin),
Jaap ter Linden (Cello),
Miles Golding (Violin),
Elizabeth Wilcock (Violin)
Conductor:
Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Concert
Period: Baroque
Written: 1711; Venice, Italy
Sound Samples
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 "La Primavera": 1. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 "La Primavera": 2. Largo
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E, Op.8, No.1, R.269 "La Primavera": 3. Allegro (Danza pastorale)
Concerto For Violin And Strings In G Minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 "L'estate": 1. Allegro non molto - Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Strings In G Minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 "L'estate": 2. Adagio - Presto - Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Strings In G Minor, Op.8, No.2, R.315 "L'estate": 3. Presto (Tempo impetuoso d'estate)
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 "L'autunno": 1. Allegro (Ballo, e canto de' villanelli)
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 "L'autunno": 2. Adagio molto (Ubriachi dormienti)
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F, Op.8, No.3, R.293 "L'autunno": 3. Allegro (La caccia)
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F Minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 "L'inverno": 1. Allegro non molto
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F Minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 "L'inverno": 2. Largo
Concerto For Violin And Strings In F Minor, Op.8, No.4, R.297 "L'inverno": 3. Allegro
Concerto for Strings and Continuo in D minor, R.128: 1. Allegro non molto
Concerto for Strings and Continuo in D minor, R.128: 2. Largo
Concerto for Strings and Continuo in D minor, R.128: 3. Allegro
Sinfonia for Strings and Continuo in B minor, R.169 - "Al Santo Sepolcro": 1. Adagio molto
Sinfonia for Strings and Continuo in B minor, R.169 - "Al Santo Sepolcro": 2. Allegro ma poco
Concerto grosso in D, Op.3/1, RV 549: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso in D, Op.3/1, RV 549: 2. Largo e spiccato
Concerto grosso in D, Op.3/1, RV 549: 3. Allegro
Concerto grosso in G minor , Op.3/2 , RV 578: 1. Adagio e spiccato
Concerto grosso in G minor , Op.3/2 , RV 578: 2. Allegro
Concerto grosso in G minor , Op.3/2 , RV 578: 3. Larghetto
Concerto grosso in G minor , Op.3/2 , RV 578: 4. Allegro
Concerto grosso in G , Op.3/3 , RV 310: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso in G , Op.3/3 , RV 310: 2. Largo
Concerto grosso in G , Op.3/3 , RV 310: 3. Allegro
Concerto grosso in E minor , Op.3/4 , RV 550: 1. Andante
Concerto grosso in E minor , Op.3/4 , RV 550: 2. Allegro assai
Concerto grosso in E minor , Op.3/4 , RV 550: 3. Adagio - 4. Allegro
Concerto grosso in A , Op.3/5 , RV 519: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso in A , Op.3/5 , RV 519: 2. Largo
Concerto grosso in A , Op.3/5 , RV 519: 3. Allegro
Concerto grosso in A minor , Op.3/6 , RV 356: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso in A minor , Op.3/6 , RV 356: 2. Largo
Concerto grosso in A minor , Op.3/6 , RV 356: 3. Presto
Concerto grosso in F , Op.3/7 , RV 567: 1. Andante
Concerto grosso in F , Op.3/7 , RV 567: 2. Adagio
Concerto grosso in F , Op.3/7 , RV 567: 3. Allegro
Concerto grosso in F , Op.3/7 , RV 567: 4. Adagio
Concerto grosso for 2 violins, strings and continuo in A minor, Op.3/8 , RV 522: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso for 2 violins, strings and continuo in A minor, Op.3/8 , RV 522: 2. Larghetto
Concerto grosso for 2 violins, strings and continuo in A minor, Op.3/8 , RV 522: 3. Allegro
Concerto grosso for violins, strings and continuo in D , Op.3/9 , RV 230: 1. Allegro
Concerto grosso for violins, strings and continuo in D , Op.3/9 , RV 230: 2. Larghetto
Concerto grosso for violins, strings and continuo in D , Op.3/9 , RV 230: 3. Allegro
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 2 Customer Reviews )
Excellent Musicianship December 15, 2012
By M. Bishop (Clackamas, OR) See All My Reviews
"The English Concert are first-rate performers when it comes to interpreting baroque music, so the stellar performances as demonstrated here were no surprise to me. What comes through over and over again is sustained excellence in musical performances, especially when it comes to solo demonstrations. This album is replete with solo artistry, coupled with The English Concert performing at their best. I highly recommend this album to anyone desiring to hear Vivaldi presented in the best possible light."
Report Abuse
BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION July 12, 2012
By Arthur Papas (Weston, MA) See All My Reviews
"This is a Vivaldi Festival of rich performances of his music. The selections are varied and represent a broad spectrum of his work from string pieces to Oboe and Bassoon Concerti. It's a Vivaldi "romp," and the price was right. It's a great deal of Vivaldi by world class musicians and performers, for a markedly discounted price. It works beautifully as a collection."
Report Abuse
Review This Title
