Vivaldi: Glorias - Dixit Dominus, Magnificat, Beatus Vir

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), George Guest (Conductor), Philip Ledger (Conductor), Stephen Cleobury (Conductor), English Chamber Orchestra (Performer), Anne Wilkens (Performer), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Orchestra), Wren Orchestra (Orchestra), David Briggs (Performer), Richard Farnes (Performer), Isobel Buchanan (Performer), Jennifer Smith (Performer), Lynda Russell (Performer), Patrizia Kwella (Performer), Andrew King (Performer), Ian Partridge (Performer), Kenneth Bowen (Performer), John Shirley-Quirk (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: English Chamber Orchestra, Anne Wilkens, David Briggs, Richard Farnes, Isobel Buchanan, et al.
• Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Wren Orchestra
• Conductor: George Guest, Philip Ledger, Stephen Cleobury
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (February 14, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000423Z
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,501 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Magnificats

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome introdution to neglected part of Vivaldi's oeuvre., April 4, 2001

By 

darragh o'donoghue - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: Glorias - Dixit Dominus, Magnificat, Beatus Vir (Audio CD)

Vivaldi's sacred music is not so famous as that of his contemporaries Bach and Handel, so this is a bargain opportunity to catch up. You might think Vivaldi's playful, virtuoso Italianate character and Catholic context would produce radically different music, but in George Guest's urgent readings, the mixture of restrainedly exultant choruses and austerely beautiful arias are near-identical to Bach.

The opening movement of the second 'Gloria', with its swirling violins and temperately joyous trumpet and winds, is one of the most celebrated pieces of Baroque music; nothing here quite equals it, but there is a haunting, echoing quality to some of the slower movements at odds with the generally celebratory form. The reverb-heavy production exploits this somtimes too much, making the sound seem artificial. For a more 'Italianate' interpretation, I would recommend Trevor Pinnock, whose caressing tempos allow Vivaldi's warm harmonic spaciousness to breathe.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps it's just me...., March 6, 2006

By 

Cat Nation - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: Glorias - Dixit Dominus, Magnificat, Beatus Vir (Audio CD)

The sound quality of this recording is stunning and the soloists sing beautifully. I love these pieces, and the presentation is generally thrilling on this CD set. However, as authentic as they may be, I have a serious problem listening to the voices of young boys singing. The possibility of any genuine emotion or spirituality lurking behind the angelic chiming is lost on me. Also, the kids seem slightly heavy in the mix, at times drowning the music.... I realize this may be a bit shallow, and I do not discourage anyone from buying this CD if they don't mind the sound of a children's choir. It's really quite accomplished sounding, just not to my personal taste.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Glorious Recording, October 26, 2000

By 

Brooks Williams "So. Awesome." (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivaldi: Glorias - Dixit Dominus, Magnificat, Beatus Vir (Audio CD)

Being already familiar with Vivaldi's Four Seasons and also a big fan of Choral works, I picked this up not knowing anything about the pieces and was pleasantly surprised. Two versions of Gloria in D major take up the first disk. RV 589, the second version of Gloria is the better known of the two versions, but I wouldn't say that it is superior. Both versions have their merits and I enjoy listening to them back to back. The second disk is my favorite. Although I bought it for the Glorias, I have fallen in love with the Magnificat in G major. This two-disc set is, in my opinion, all about the Magnificat. What a wonderful piece! Dixit Dominus and Beatur vir are both great pieces as well. This is a great recording and the music within in excellent.