Vivaldi - L’Estro Armonico
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Label: Channel Classics
Cat No: CCSSA36515
Format: Hybrid SACD
Number of Discs: 2
Release Date: 16th March 2015
Contents
Artists
Rachel Podger (violin)Brecon Baroque
About
Vivaldi augmented his reputation as ‘The Red Priest’ with ‘L'Estro Armonico’ Op.3, a collection of twelve concertos for one, two and four violins. The title of the collection encapsulates the qualities that so entranced Vivaldi’s contemporaries.
‘L’Estro Armonico’, which might be translated as ‘musical rapture’, reflects the vitality and freshness of Vivaldi’s invention: its rhythmic energy, melodic and harmonic intensity, textural sensuousness, performative brilliance and dramatic flair.
“These pieces are truly exhilarating to play and perform and their fresh impact never fails to hit some target or other, judging by the reaction of a live audience. Not often do you witness four violins trying to outdo each other! During Brecon Baroque's concerts preceding the recording, the rapier-like turns in musical conversations between the four parts always seemed to lead to added expectation and excitement – all the more effective because of the contrasted moments of deep melancholy which Vivaldi somehow manages to express irrespective of mode” - Rachel Podger
The dynamic ensemble Brecon Baroque was founded in 2007 by violinist and director Rachel Podger as resident ensemble at her annual Brecon Baroque Festival. The international line-up consists of some of some of the leading lights in the period instrument world. Brecon Baroque specialises in the music of J S Bach and his contemporaries, mostly as a one-to-a-part ensemble based on the Cafe Zimmerman ensemble which Bach himself directed. They also appear as a small baroque orchestra for Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell and Handel.
Sound/Video
Paused
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1Concerto no.1 in D minor RV549 - I. Allegro
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2Concerto no.1 in D minor RV549 - II. Largo e spiccato
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3Concerto no.1 in D minor RV549 - III. Allegro
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4Concerto no.2 in G minor RV578 - I. Adagio e spiccato - Allegro
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5Concerto no.2 in G minor RV578 - II. Larghetto
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6Concerto no.2 in G minor RV578 - III. Allegro
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7Concerto no.3 in G major RV310 - I. Allegro
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8Concerto no.3 in G major RV310 - II. Largo
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9Concerto no.3 in G major RV310 - III. Allegro
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10Concerto no.4 in E minor RV550 - I. Andante
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11Concerto no.4 in E minor RV550 - II. Allegro assai
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12Concerto no.4 in E minor RV550 - III. Adagio - Allegro
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13Concerto no.5 in A major RV519 - I. Allegro
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14Concerto no.5 in A major RV519 - II. Largo
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15Concerto no.5 in A major RV519 - III. Allegro
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16Concerto no.6 in A minor RV356 - I. Allegro
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17Concerto no.6 in A minor RV356 - II. Largo
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18Concerto no.6 in A minor RV356 - III. Presto
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19Concerto no.7 in F major RV567 - I. Andante
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20Concerto no.7 in F major RV567 - II. Adagio
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21Concerto no.7 in F major RV567 - III. Adagio - Allegro
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22Concerto no.8 in A minor RV522 - I. Allegro
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23Concerto no.8 in A minor RV522 - II. Larghetto e spiritoso
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24Concerto no.8 in A minor RV522 - III. Allegro
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25Concerto no.9 in D major RV230 - I. Allegro
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26Concerto no.9 in D major RV230 - II. Larghetto
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27Concerto no.9 in D major RV230 - III. Allegro
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28Concerto no.10 in B minor RV580 - I. Allegro
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29Concerto no.10 in B minor RV580 - II. Largo - Larghetto
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30Concerto no.10 in B minor RV580 - III. Allegro
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31Concerto no.11 in D minor RV565 - I. Allegro - Adagio
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32Concerto no.11 in D minor RV565 - II. Largo e spiccato
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33Concerto no.11 in D minor RV565 - III. Allegro
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34Concerto no.12 in E major RV265 - I. Allegro
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35Concerto no.12 in E major RV265 - III. Allegro
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36Concerto no.12 in E major RV265 - II. Largo
Europadisc Review
With the exception of some nicely-judged additional continuo instruments, it is the latter one-per-part approach that is taken on this new disc from Channel Classics, and it works stunningly well. As a result, we get the sense that Vivaldi is not just setting out his own compositional stall here, but is also showcasing the musical possibilities of the entire violin family, which reached true ascendancy in the Baroque period. And it helps that Brecon Baroque boasts some of the finest players in the business, wearing their virtuosity lightly in performances that positively bubble with energy.
Unlike some ensembles who over-egg the pudding with excessive ornamentation and rubato, Brecon Baroque exercise unerring good taste, enhancing rather than distracting from Vivaldi’s seemingly limitless invention. The continuo instruments – two theorbos, a guitar, harpsichord and organ – are likewise thoughtfully deployed. Fast movements have a sparkle and rhythmic resilience that match the best from any quarter, while the slow movements combine poise with a rapt intensity that holds the listener spellbound.
At every turn it’s evident that these performances have benefitted enormously from being recorded only after a series of concert performances, retaining a spontaneous flair while leaving no detail to chance. Try the opening movement of the Concerto No.8 in A minor, complete with deliciously thrumming guitar continuo, and the exquisitely balanced Larghetto which follows, to hear how this combination of spontaneity and reflection makes itself felt in practice. The sense of enjoyment is tangible throughout.
The recording, produced by Jonathan Freeman-Attwood at St John’s, Upper Norwood, is well up to Channel Classics’ usual high standards, and these discs – which join Rachel Podger’s earlier recordings of Vivaldi’s La Stravaganza and La Cetra concertos – can comfortably take their place at the head of an extremely competitive field.
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