Track Listing

1. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in D major ('L'inquietudine'), RV 234: I. Allegro molto
2. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in D major ('L'inquietudine'), RV 234: II. Largo
3. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in D major ('L'inquietudine'), RV 234: III. Allegro
4. Concerto funebre, for violin, oboe, chalumeau, 3 violas all'inglese, strings & continuo in B flat major, RV 579
5. Concerto funebre, for violin, oboe, chalumeau, 3 violas all'inglese, strings & continuo in B flat major, RV 579
6. Concerto funebre, for violin, oboe, chalumeau, 3 violas all'inglese, strings & continuo in B flat major, RV 579
7. Concerto funebre, for violin, oboe, chalumeau, 3 violas all'inglese, strings & continuo in B flat major, RV 579
8. Concerto, for flute, oboe, bassoon, strings & continuo in F major ('Tempesta di mare'), RV 570
9. Concerto, for flute, oboe, bassoon, strings & continuo in F major ('Tempesta di mare'), RV 570
10. Concerto, for flute, oboe, bassoon, strings & continuo in F major ('Tempesta di mare'), RV 570
11. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: Largo
12. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: Fantasmi: Presto
13. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: Largo
14. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: Presto
15. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: II sonno: Largo
16. Flute Concerto, for flute, strings & continuo in G minor ('La Notte'), Op. 10/2, RV 439: Allegro
17. Concerto per eco in lontana, for 4 violins, strings & continuo in A major, RV 552: Allegro
18. Concerto per eco in lontana, for 4 violins, strings & continuo in A major, RV 552: Larghetto
19. Concerto per eco in lontana, for 4 violins, strings & continuo in A major, RV 552: Allegro
20. Concerto Il riposo, concerto per il Santissimo Natale, for violin, strings & continuo in E major, RV 270: Allegro
21. Concerto Il riposo, concerto per il Santissimo Natale, for violin, strings & continuo in E major, RV 270: Adagio
22. Concerto Il riposo, concerto per il Santissimo Natale, for violin, strings & continuo in E major, RV 270: Allegro
23. Double Cello Concerto, for 2 cellos, strings & continuo in G minor, RV 531: I. Allegro
24. Double Cello Concerto, for 2 cellos, strings & continuo in G minor, RV 531: II. Largo
25. Double Cello Concerto, for 2 cellos, strings & continuo in G minor, RV 531: III. Allegro

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50576 in Music
• Released on: 2000-06-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
You say your favorite Vivaldi passage is the Four Seasons summer storm? Well, here's a disc for you. Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante (known to many for their bestselling Seasons disc) focus on concerti con titoli, the titled concertos the Red Priest wrote that are full of inventive drama and expression. Writing for his student orchestra, the composer employed plenty of creativity in his instrumentation, and, as evidenced on a few tracks here, he wasn't beyond recycling motifs from his older works. But just give this exciting disc a listen. The Concerto funebre (RV 579) is sweet, yet somber; the six-movement La notte (RV 439) is weird and ominous; and the stormy seas of La tempesta di mare really come alive in Europa Galante's hands. Biondi and his ensemble never try to steal the show from these works; they let the music speak for itself. Some period-instrument groups sound a little ragged, but this one gets it just right and delivers a knockout, taut performance. A great disc for Baroque lovers. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Vibrant Vivaldi
Vivaldi is played with excitement by Europa Galante, a string and woodwind orchestra 13 strong here. Some collections of Vivaldi concertos can sound a bit monotonous, but not this carefully selected group of emotively titled short pieces. Instrumentation is varied, the playing is enthusiastic and energetic as needed, and the strings really bite in the staccato "Sea Tempest," the waves slapping hard on the boat. The 6-movement "Night" is remarkably eerie and ghostly, particularly if you can cleanse your ears of all the chromatic pieces written since and try to listen with 18th century expectations. RV 234 is full of unsettling "Apprehension" no matter what later music you have heard, displaying a harried and rapidly modulated sense of harmonic uncertainty. The brief notes with the CD are a slightly strange mixture of English and untranslated Italiano. Fresh and well worth listening closely.

lively vivaldi
I'm not a baroque expert as some of the other reviewers seem to be. I do listen to a lot of music and have heard much Vivaldi -- most frequently the Four Seasons warhorse from Opus 8. This Vivaldi is quite enjoyable, very bright and very well played, energetic and well-recorded. My personal favorite was the last work for two cellos. The slow movement is absolutely beautiful. RV 270 is also quite excellent. This is a worthwhile purchase. Sometimes when period groups play his music Vivaldi sounds mummified but not here. Recommended.

Biondi rulez...
I know I have been very negative in my other reviews of Biondi-cds. Actually, I almost take it back!
He is NOT an opera-conductor, period. But he IS a brilliant violinist! His playing in the Vivaldi concertos is just outstanding. The orchestra is also amazing. I really recommends this set of concertos to anyone not familiar with the Biondi legacy!