Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery (Audio CD)

Vivaldi (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Children's Group
• ASIN: 1895404770
• Also Available in: Paperback  |  Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,264 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Four Seasons, Spring 1, RV 269 - Classical Kids

2. Piccolo Concerto, II, RV 443

3. Arriving at the Pietà/Four Seasons, Autumn, I, RV 293/Guitar/Flute ...

4. Violin Concerto in a Minor, I, RV 356

5. Four Seasons, Winter, II, RV 297

6. Guitar Concerto, II, RV 93: Alma del Core

7. Venice by Day: Guitar Concerto, III, RV 93/Seasons, Autumn, III, ...

8. Sonata for 2 Violins, II, RV 60: Opera "Farnace" RV 711

9. Violin Concerto in a Minor, II, RV 356

10. Venice by Night: "La Notte", I, II, III, RV 439

11. Island of the Dead/Four Seasons, Autumn, II, RV 293/Four Seasons, ...

12. Talk With Vivaldi: "Il Gardellino" II, RV 90/Beatus Vir, RV ...

13. Concert Preparations: Piccolo Concerto, I, RV 443/Guitar Concerto, ...

14. Conclusion/Double Orchestra Concerto, II, RV 585/Guitar Concerto, ...

Editorial Reviews

In this touching tale, a gifted young violinist is sent to study music at the Pieta orphanage in Venice with the great composer Antonio Vivaldi. It s Carnival time, magic is in the air and mystery unfolds as Katarina enlists Giovanni, the gondolier, to help in her search to discover her origins. In a climactic scene, a masked stranger reunites Katarina with her family and she must make an important choice between staying with her music at the Pieta or entering the world. More than 24 excerpts from Vivaldi s most popular and important works have been freshly recorded, including the Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in A-, Guitar Concerto, Piccolo Concerto, Double Trumpet Concerto and Vivaldi s unfinished opera Farnace, RV 711

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to classical music for kids, April 21, 2001

By 

M. Ragen "searagen" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

We've had this CD (and others in the Classical Kids series) for over a year now. Both we and our boys (now 6 and 8) have enjoyed them considerably. Of the various CDs, this one has one of the best story lines as it has a sense of mystery around it. At first, the story helped keep the kids interested. It provided a sense of history and helped set the stage for the era and place where Vivaldi lived. However, as they listened (time and time again), they started to pay more attention to the musical portions. Recently, we've been able to tell that they've picked up a sense of the music. When we listen to classical music on the car radio, time and again, they perk up when listening to a piece of music and surprise us by saying "That's Vivaldi" or "That's Beethoven". Sure enough - they've picked up something about the style of music that's characteristic of the composer. Sometimes it's the snippet of music from the CD and other times it's just the rhythms that are characteristic of that piece. As a family, we all recommend this.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery story and lovely music for children & parents, January 10, 2003

By 

Nature Mom w/ 2 children + EE & Management de... (Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

We have many of the Classical Kids CD collection, but this one is my children's favorite (ages 5 & 7). The story on this CD is a mystery that contains some sadness, clues, dangers & problems to overcome, fun, excitement - and of course great Vivaldi music. Even though my children knew the ending after hearing it the first time, the story & music are so compelling that they love hearing it over and over again anyway. It's one of the CDs I enjoy listening to with them. If you like Classical Kids' Mozart's Magic Fantasy/Magic Flute, you'll probably like Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery (my 5-yr-old thinks the Mozart story is too scary for nighttime, but not this Vivaldi CD, if that helps you guage the 'danger' at all). Enjoy!!

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent introduction to baroque music & absorbing story, November 2, 1999

By 

Deborah Rochefort (Eastern WV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

A nice piece of historical fiction for youngsters, with nicely performed clips of non-synthesized music by various artists, this is my 3-yr-old daughter's favorite CD, eclipsing even 'Toddler's Sing'! While I think the story is rather beyond her, she still grasps enough to have interest and sympathy for the young heroine, Katerina. Recently while in a mall, my young daughter excitedly recognized a piped-in composition as belonging to 'Valdi (Vivaldi), from a clip played on this CD. My favorite part of the CD music-story is where Antonio Vivaldi spontaneously composes an opera from a children's quarrel, which encourages young ones to spontaneously compose songs and perhaps 'operas' of their own (my only quibble is that I would have liked to have heard children singing this small section rather than adults). My little one sings along. The story line also has great atmosphere and pathos, the latter which although cliche for adult listeners, is certainly satisfying for children. And even this adult listener gets a lump in her throat sometimes listening to the tale of an orphan who starts out life not unlike my adopted daughter did as an infant.