Customer Reviews

Famous Chamber Concertos

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After several years of giving lesser attention to baroque recordings, I read about the Vivaldi-album of Bartoli and Giardino armonico. That was how I discovered the nothing less than revolutionary way of playing Vivaldi by Giardino armonico . This ensemble is sensational. They play Vivaldi so intense, uncompromisingly contrastfully and sometimes shocking abrupt changing moods, tempi, sound effects, dynamics, thereby giving life to this "historic" music in a way I only dared dreaming of. This is Vivaldi "live", and I just can't hold my seat listening to it! They play on historic instruments technically so perfect while breathtakingly expressive. My only question remaining is how could anybody play Vivaldi differently? Be prepared or warned: knowing this Vivaldi, you may use your non-Giardino-armonico recordings of Vivaldi only for educational purposes, may be demonstrating how not to play the four seasons and so on ?

These works are selected from five CD's: the Complete Concerti da Camera Vol. 1-4 and from the Mandolin & Lute Concerti - all by Il Giardino Armonico (on Teldec).

Hmmm...Vivaldi's music had always reminded me of a sparkling morning, with flowers blooming, and birds chirping. And perhaps a lover bringing fresh squeezed orange juice on a tray and saying, "good morning sunshine." But Il Giardino Armonico does not sound like that at all! The music is "in your face" demanding to be heard with all of your attention, like a pesky child. Even the quiet lyrical moments have a current of intensity that promises the evasion of tickling hands, or a big shove that totters you over the edge to splash in a pool. This is not dreamy, background music, so hold on to your chair and be prepared to face the playful onslaught.

The sound is superb.

This CD recording of 18th century music makes Vivaldi sound
as if he belongs to the 21st century. Abrupt silences, unique
instrumentation, unexpected pacing, all contribute to this novel
experience. For example, Il Giardino Armonica's performance of
"La Notte" (The Night) simply takes my breath away.
Hear, and you shall understand!

The best concerti da camera, the most successful renderings of IGA are reunited in this CD. One of the gratest CDs of the Vivaldi discography.