Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland [Import]

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Andrew Manze (Conductor), Academy of Ancient Music (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music
• Conductor: Andrew Manze
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (July 9, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B00006644L
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What elegance and grace is contained here, October 11, 2005

By 

C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland (Audio CD)

The Academy of Ancient Music has done a wonderful job with this CD of the 4 Concertos written by Vivaldi in honor of the vist of Prince Frederick Christian, Prince of Poland, to Venice. The works were spread out over several evenings so that they could be enjoyed by the illustrious guests. The Academy of Ancient Music does a superb job with this collection of music that required use of instruments rarely used today.

Sinfonia in G major dazzles us with joyful pomp. The third movement echoes the Autumn section of the Four Seasons by capturing the sound of the harvest folk dance.

Violin Concerto in E-flat major is incredibly well constructed, almost mathematical in composition, with passages building one upon the other. The first movement builds gradually but the third movement slips and slides like children in a playground.

Concerto in D minor has courtly beinnings. Like much of Vivaldi, the violins sometimes are allowed to take the foreground with a somewhat rustic power, yet they are usually balanced by the pure elegance of the other instruments and melodies that echo with intensity. The lute accompanies the violin and other string instruments with its Renaissance sound. Lute strings individually plucked slow the piece and increase the intensity of anticipation in the second movement.

In Concerto in A major, Vivaldi uses violins with three echo violins. In the CD program they explain that when this piece was played for the Polish Prince, the primary violinist was visible but that they echo violinists were hidden around the concert hall, which I can only guess was a delightful and playful game to play with the listening audience of the time. In this concerto, the violins sound so birdlike as they echo each other's songs back and forth. In the final movement, Allegro, the violins boldly and sweetly play their echo game, no longer playing birds but mellowing into instruments of joy.

In Violin Concerto in C Major we hear graceful refrains that build like the Spring section of the Four Seasons.

In the Concerto in C Major we hear the finest piece on the whole CD in terms of complexity and orchestration. The recorder is used along with instruments called chalumeaux and theorbos. The grand march sound of the Allegro molto subsides long enough to hear the wonderful wind instruments complimented by mandolins, giving a delightful break from the violins. I think this concerto is my favorite on the CD, with the warm sounds of rare instruments permeating the piece.Yet, how can one pick a favorite from this wonderful collection of music.

Vivaldi is so elegant, so graceful and balanced. I love his music because it puts demands only on my ear the way Matisse puts demands only on my eyes. He transports me.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music as expected from Andrew Manze, June 22, 2003

By 

"scarlatti11" (Killeen, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland (Audio CD)

Andrew Manze and the Academy of Ancient Music
again in this recording doing a wonderful job
the performances are splendid, the acoustics
are also wonderful. The Academy of Ancient Music
plays with clarity. Indeed, with this recording
the music of Vivaldi reached perfection!
Highly recomended!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just sublime, November 4, 2004

By 

DeeCeeP (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland (Audio CD)

I bought this fantastic CD over a year ago and it became my most cherished 'Classics' possession. Then thieves broke in to my home and stole it along with many others. I've finally had it replaced by the insurance company, and am now revisting the beautiful sounds of this program. Superb playing, great collection of works, and the usual sublime recording quality from a HM production. This has to be one of the essential Vivaldi recordings, especially valued given the lower price.