27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Focus on the Recordings, July 23, 2007
This review is from: Vivaldi: The Masterworks (40CD Box Set) (Audio CD)
I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.
The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.
First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.
I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.
DISC 1:
Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.
DISC 2:
Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.
DISC 3:
The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.
DISC 4:
Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.
DISC 5:
A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.
Tracks 4, 6, 7 and the whole "La Notte" are extraordinary.
DISC 6:
Exquisitely recorded and performed by the Budapest Strings.
DISC 7:
Marvelous performance on the whole disc.
Tracks 22 & 24 are non-plus-ultra.
DISC 8:
Great performance too.
Suggested tracks: 7, 12, 15, 24
DISC 9:
To have an original baroque organ playing is a plus.
Solo strings are lacking in quality (for example: tracks 6 & 7).
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15
DISC 10:
Despite being and ADD recording, the quality is fairly good. The cello is very well played.
Suggested tracks: 3, 4, 12
Excellent track: 13
DISC 11:
Same musical group and soloist as DISC 10. The contrabass is extremely distorted sometimes, and if you take into consideration that this is an ADD recording, it can get pretty bad. Some background noise is perceived.
Suggested tracks: 3, 6, 9
DISC 12:
The compositions are somewhat boring, either way the performance is plain decent.
Suggested tracks: 10, 12
DISC 13:
Good performance and sound quality.
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7
Excellent track: 12
DISC 14:
Good performance and sound quality too.
Suggested tracks: 10, 14, 16
Excellent track: 5
DISC 15:
Badly mixed, the basoon is blocking the whole ensamble by being in the foreground.
The playing precision is lacking.
An AWEFUL thing about this recording is that you can hear the basson key-sticking with the instrument and the saliva. It's horrible.
Such a pity, the sound of the basson with other instruments can be pretty interesting.
DISC 16:
Violins sound a bit off tempo.
Suggested tracks: 4, 8
DISC 17:
Good sound quality and performance.
Suggested tracks: 1, 7, 9
DISC 18:
Despite being an old recording, it is a very welcome one.
The performance is very well above par. Tempo is fantastic.
The quality of the recording could have been better due to some string plucking that is heard and which can become bothersome.
These are some of Vivaldi's best know tunes.
Suggested tracks: 4, 6, 13
Excellent tracks: 1, 3
DISC 19:
Lively recording.
Track 6 is the same piece found in another disc in the collection, but with a better performance.
DISC 20:
By now you've heard all of this pieces before in the other discs. Nothing new here, nor better.
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20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, Broad Selection, January 24, 2007
This review is from: Vivaldi: The Masterworks (40CD Box Set) (Audio CD)
This 40-cd collection affords me a rare pleasure almost daily: the thrill of hearing something new by Vivaldi. Despite my best efforts over the years, I've managed to miss hearing a lot of great works by the master. Listening to a single CD now and then, catching tunes on the radio... you can't possibly get a comprehensive understanding of Vivaldi's output that way.
But when you work your way systematically from CD 1 through 40, you're sure to find many pleasant surprises. I've been skipping through everything I already know -- in some cases, it has only taken me about a minute to get through a whole CD (first 3 seconds of each track is usually enough). But then I stop and listen carefully three or four times to anything that's new.
Ah, what a pleasure. I've already acquired some new favorites. And some old standbys have proved even more rewarding, e.g. at first I thought RV 127 (CD 7, tracks 10-12) was performed too slowly (Naxos No: 8.553742 is much faster), but now I'm not sure; maybe it's BETTER that way! I can't recommend this set highly enough.
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