I had always preferred Vivaldi’s latest concert cycles to “L’Estro Armonico” (his earliest), especially "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" (where his famous “Four Seasons” come from). Listening to this recording by the venerable Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields hasn’t changed my mind, but it has added extra weight to the figure of the Italian priest.
There are 12 concertos in the cycle, some in major, and some in minor keys. The breadth of variation here is enormous, with Vivaldi dazzling us in every piece with every little turn or twist. Though most concertos are in the three-movement form (with the exception of the 2nd in G minor), not all of them adhere to the traditional fast-slow-fast structure, and the Italian master keeps surprising us with his creativity
As a second part of the set, we get 4 concertos for wind instruments. While not as vibrant or impressive as the ones in “L’Estro Armonico”, they serve as a good introduction for the rest of the composer’s concert output, which was not exclusively based on the violin and the other strings. I found two of them particularly exciting: the concerto for bassoon in A minor, where Vivaldi had to deal with an instrument that demanded a more cautioned approach to the orchestra part, and the one for 2 oboes, 2 horns and violin in F, where the composer masterfully combines 5 concertino voices with that of the ensemble.
The recording is not up to the best standards set by more modern releases, and at times the music just doesn’t jump up front. Clarity is OK but not perfect. The versions themselves, on the other hand, are of the same high quality that Marriner and his ASMF have made us used to. I recommend this double-set for the great music and the great playing in modern instruments by the performers. For a person new to Vivaldi, I’d try first with the “Four Seasons” before I jump to any complete cycle.
3.5/5
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