Customer Reviews

Vivaldi: Complete Cello Concertos

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This set is really represents an outstanding bargain for anybody wanting to acquire the majority of Vivaldi's (1678-1741) cello concerti.

The playing by the cellist, Ofra Harnoy, is quite fine. The accompaniment by the Toronto Chamber Orchestra is full-bodied, yet not overpowering. The sound engineering (these recordings date from the late eighties and early nineties) is also very good.

But are these concerti worth getting to know? Well, I definitely think so. In my opinion, the argument that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto 600 items has been debunked by recent recordings of his lesser-known works. Each cello concerto is expertly crafted, and each concerto contains its own distinctive themes. The opening the movement ritornelli are delightful (the energetic, ascending opening of RV 404 is a personal favorite), the central movements are lovely (the deeply rich second movement of RV 420 is startlingly novel) and the closing movements are filled with inexhaustible virtuosity (the mischievous third movement of RV 424 and the lilting, compound-meter melody of RV 404 are particularly entertaining).

I will mention that while the playing, by both the ensemble and the soloist, is good, I would characterize this set as a 'conservative' interpretation of Vivaldi's works. In recent years, there has been a movement to infuse Vivaldi's concerti with more pronounced dynamic and tempo contrasts. In these more recent performances, the accented notes have more punch, color and depth is added to basso continue line through the inclusion of a lute, and the soloist has more interpretive leeway. I personally prefer this more interpretive approach to Vivaldi's concerti, but others may disagree. This approach, as applied to Vivaldi's cello concerti, can be heard in Vivaldi: Concerti per violoncello 1.

You may notice that I used the word 'majority' in the first sentence of this review, which, disappointingly, means that this set does not constitute the Red Priest's 'complete' cello concerti. Missing from this set are RV 398, RV 410, RV 415, RV 421 and the entertaining RV 531 for two cellos. Being a completist, this slightly irks me, but I suspect that this will not be a factor for most people.

So, in conclusion, this is a solid release; and at the current price it does not make sense to give this set anything other than my highest recommendation to those looking to discover Vivaldi's cello concerti.

Total Times:
CD 1: 53:53
CD 2: 73:25
CD 3: 59:02
CD 4: 62:43

This 4-disc set is an RCA Victor reissue of recordings of Vivaldi's cello concertos that Canadian cellist Ofra Harnoy made from 1989-1997. At a bargain price of $23.98, it's an absolute must-have for baroque music lovers, fans of Vivaldi, or just anyone who loves good classical music. Most people are probably familiar with Vivaldi's many violin concertos, including, of course, Le Quattro Stagioni, the famous "Four Seasons." This lesser known music by "the red priest" is just as rewarding. Harnoy's cello has a warm and rich tone, and the Toronto Chamber Orchestra provides excellent accompaniment. Superb in every respect.

What immediately surprised me, after happily being borne along by the jouncy first track of this compilation, is why Vivaldi is still a stranger in the classical cello concert hall. Cellists spotlighted as soloists invariably choose the concerti of Dvorak, Saint Saens, Elgar, even Haydn. Perhaps it's because these compositions showcase the cellist's technical skills. However, all are forays into somber tones. In contrast, Vivaldi's cello concerti is loaded with his unmistakable joie de vivre. Yet Vivaldi's soaring notes, caresses, leaps and waves are complemented by his thoughtful forays into melancholia, subtly dipping into sadness without delving too deeply that it can't go back. Ofra Harnoy gratifyingly showcases the composer and these wonderful pieces, not herself; she is a cellist not given to cheap effects for braggadocio. Get this wonderful collection if you love cello and baroque music. It occupies a cherished spot on my classical cd collection. The music never fails to cheer me up.

I was given the Naxos edition Vivaldi: Cello Concerti, Vol. 3 of Raphael Wallfisch playing these Vivaldi Concerti. I had not heard these works before, and after hearing this CD I wanted to have the entire set. After reading the reviews for the Harnoy edition, I decided that the RCA complete collection was the way to go instead of buying each Naxos Vol separately. The RCA version a great price for a large collection.

I don't think one can find fault with Harnoy's playing. She is less aggressive than Wallfisch; some like Vivaldi more aggressive, others less so. However, when compared to the Naxos edition, the overall RCA recording seems muffled, with Harnoy's cello blending in with the accompanying instruments. The sound is simply homogenized. Additionally, there are irregularities with the interpretation of the concerti. Although Harnoy is the cellist in all the pieces, the entire set includes two different conductors, two different harpsichordists, and different cello continuos. The differences are slight, but they are there.

This having been said, I like a solo instrument to stand out, whereas others like them to blend in a bit more, to sound less "out there." If the later is your thing, then I'd say the Harnoy version would be a good fit. If you like a more prominent place for the soloist, then try the Wallfisch version.

I'm neither a musicisian nor a classical music expert, but I am enjoying these CDs. To my mind, ears, and wallet, this boxed set of 4 CD is close to being "excellent".

My 4.5+ star rating would be higher were it not for a couple of avoidable blemishes. These relate to marketing and production matters that could, and - in my opinion - should, have been addressed.

The first matter relates to the title of this set: "Vivaldi Complete Cello Concertos". This appears to be incorrect and, thus, makes a misleading claim about the scope of this set's content. This set contains 21 complete cello concertos and the Largo of one other, plus two concertos for cello and violin and one for cello and bassoon. In the included notes, their author, Olaf Joksch, states that "In 1979 the Danish musicologist Peter Ryom listed 27 concertos for cello and orchestra alone in his Vivaldi catalogue..."

So, where are the other 5 and 2/3rd concertos for cello and orchestra (I think these would include RV 400, 410, 421 and 531)? Might not these have filled another disc, and thus justified the set's title? Also, as the set's producer (Ofra Harnoy's father Jacob) decided to include 3 concertos for cello and other instruments (i.e. RV 409,544 and 547)as part of these "Complete Cello Concertos", it also seems reasonable to ask what happened to Vivaldi's other (albeit few)concertos for cello and other instruments (eg RV 415 and 538)?

I realise this is not the first time that boxed sets claiming to be "complete works"(of some kind)turn-out not to be so. However, this would seem to me to be an unacceptable justification, in this case as in any other. At the very least, the situation and reasons for ommissions should be clearly and prominently disclosed on the outside of the box; and, surely, likewise explained in the internal notes.

The second, and to my thinking rather less significant, matter relates to a few production errors. The most obvious of these are confusing problems with the play-lists for discs 2 and 3.

The play-lists in the set's notes and on the sleeve for each disc correspond with each other and appear to be correct. However, the play-list that appears for disc 2 when it is played is a duplicate of the play-list for disc 4, while the times shown for each track are different from those on disc 4 and are clearly those for the actual tracks recorded. On disc 3 only the track numbers and corresponding play-times are shown: that is, there are no details as to what's being played.


There is also a rather confusing typo in the English and German text of the notes (though not in the French ones, so these are typos)as follows: "The cello - in comparison with the violin a new instrument - was not developed until the 1760s." (s/be 1660s).

None of these production issues are particularly serious. However, listeners (like me) who are not familiar with these concertos, do rely on the accuracy of the musical and other information presented to us. Accordingly, the kinds of errors noted do enough to provide "cause for pause" as to whether there are other errors of which we are not aware.

The matters noted above are unfortunate. With a little more care they could, and should, have been avoided. For me, they trim half a star or less, off what would otherwise have been a 5-star rating. However, this reviewer's overall assessment is that this is an extremely enjoyable set of CDs at an extremely reasonable price - and that's still a fine achievement.

This 4-disc set, neatly packaged in a compact case with cardboard sleeves, is outstanding value. The music is incredible and the performances are masterful. Even if this set were five times more expensive, I'd still consider it a bargain.

In fact, let me be more clear: any serious collector of superior baroque music would be a fool to omit this set. The more I listen to this collection, the more strongly I am convinced that Vivaldi was one of the finest composers of cello music of all time.

I cannot be more emphatic about this recommendation: get this set!!!

This is such an outstandingly beautiful collection! It delivers 4 hours of some of the most beautiful baroque music ever written. Vivaldi has an amazing talent for finding all the shades an colours of the cello, an instrument that can be joyous one moment and heart wrenchingly sad the next. More than its smaller cousin the violin, the cello is the true mirror of the human soul, and Vivaldi gives you all that colour and scope in this collection of Concertos. Who better to play this wonderful music than Canada's own Ofra Harnoy? Her connection to Vivaldi is powerful here!

I have been extremely impressed with this set of Vivaldi's cello works. The performances by the Toronto Chamber Orchestra are top notch and the recording is excellent, with a blended and solid sound that is easy to relax to. I wonder whether the conductors were consciously going for Karajan-style homogenization. Whether they were or not, the effect is very soothing and strangely satisfying.

Vivaldi's cello works are well suited to relaxation as they have all the cheerful optimism you expect from Vivaldi, without a lot of busyness at the high end. The low registers of the solo instrument create a soft environment that, perhaps especially in these wall-of-sound recordings, works like a memory foam pillow for the mind.

I find it remarkable that I like these recordings given that the cello is barely highlighted at all. The cello could have and probably should have been brought forward in the mix quite a bit more. Instead, the lead instrument is often as not allowed to simply blend into the rest of the orchestra. I hope this was a conscious decision, although it is a strange one -- it gives the feeling of a soloist who is a "first among equals". Perhaps vaguely socialist or communist in spirit, if we can think of those terms in their original meanings, free of their later political baggage.

Yes, as other reviewers have pointed out, this is an incomplete set of Vivaldi's cello works -- and this is a nit worth picking. If you are a completist, you'll be left unsatisfied.

Still, I am as surprised to find that I really love these recordings despite their processed, homogenized and egalitarian quirks. Highly recommended.

Like most reviewers, I find these delightful. However, please note that the CD's available from Amazon are just under $16.00, while the same tracks at poorer quality 256 kbps are available for downloading is just under $33.00. So save about 50%, get the "hard copies," wait a few days, and rip if you want, and then enjoy!