Customer Reviews

Vivaldi: Violin Concertos / Huggett

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Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741): Violin Concerto in E minor, RV 277, "Il Favorito" (Op. 11,2); Violin Concerto in E flat major, RV 253, "La Tempesta del Mare" (Op. 8,5); Violin Concerto in A major, RV 353 (MS. from Turin Library); Violin Concerto in E major, RV 271, "L'Amoroso". Monica Huggett, baroque violin and director; London Vivaldi Orchestra, Roy Goodman, leader. Recorded in the Church of St. Barnabas, North Finchley, England, in 1984. Re-issued in 1997 as ASV GAU 105 with a booklet in English, French and German. Total playing time: 42'59".

Vivaldi's violin concertos, of which some 500 appear to be extant, were first written to showcase the composer's virtuosity on the violin, and so it is no wonder that this small selection of four concertos puts Monica Huggett in the limelight, her sweet violin tone generally dominating proceedings, although not altogether to the exclusion of the London Vivaldi Orchestra and its leader Roy Goodman. The result is an entertaining and enjoyable tour down the bye-ways of Vivaldi's career as a composer: no-one who hears this music would dare to repeat the old adage that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto five hundred times! Most impressive is the Tempesta del Mare, a real sea-storm, with vibrant tempi and a radiant soloist - I feel I rather prefer this version to the one Monica Huggett later recorded for Virgin Classics with the Raglan Baroque Players. But the other three concertos also have their own distinctive characters and certainly could not be confused with anything from the "Four Seasons". L'Amoroso, in particular, lives up to its title perfectly, with some "lovely" violin playing to match the mood. In fact, the only drop of wormwood here is the brevity of the recording, some 43 minutes - at full price, that is decidedly stingy.