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Product Description 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. Review Such inspirational originality elicits inspirational playing from Brecon Baroque. More impressive than simply technique never in doubt is their detailed colouring and shaping. Every phrase has direction and purpose; dynamic nuances a momentary emphasis here, a step back there permeate every moment of the playing...this recording of them outclasses any I've experienced.BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Month April 2015 Too many operas on disc have dulled my enthusiasm for Vivaldi, but Podger's new accounts of the 12 L estro armonico concertos Harmonic inspiration or musical rapture have rekindled it. Her Brecon-based players adopt a chamber approach to these virtuosic orchestral works, which means intimacy in the rapt slow movements and sizzling dash in the allegros. Such originality explains why L estro was the publication sensation of the first half of the 18th century, and copied, by Bach.Hugh Canning. --The Sunday Times 22.03.15Minimalist forces but maximum pleasure from the way in they explore every delicious detail in these 12 concertos, reacting to one another's playing with freshness and delight that's constantly engaging. It's been captured in an excellent recording... I'll be dipping into that again just for pure pleasure as soon as I can. BBC Radio 3 CD Review You can't imagine feathers getting ruffled by Rachel Podger's approach to Vivaldi. Not that it's remotely boring: as her fingers fly through the concerto 12-pack, L Estro Armonico, your feet tap and your pulse quickens without the music being pushed to extremes. Brecon Baroque, her own ensemble, keep pace with their usual gusto... Vivaldi's notes are lively enough on their own. Four solo violins deliciously play cat and mouse.Emotional moods keep sliding around, fizz and crackle here, sombre melancholy there. Harmonies chug along with surprising twists, sowing a seed for Michael Nyman. It's true that Podger doesn't sing [with her voice];but who misses that on this scintillating album? --Geoff Brown - The Times T2 section - 20.03.15.As her fingers fly through the concerto 12-pack, L Estro Armonico, your feet tap and your pulse quickens without the music being pushed to extremes. Brecon Baroque, her own ensemble, keep pace with their usual gusto... Vivaldi's notes are lively enough on their own. Four solo violins deliciously play cat and mouse. Emotional moods keep sliding around, fizz and crackle here, sombre melancholy there. Harmonies chug along with surprising twists, sowing a seed for Michael Nyman.The Times Geoff Brown.This disproves the accusation that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto hundreds of times: even though strings are the only sonority (enlivened here by varied continuo), the combinations of one, two, and four violin soloists provide endlessly different colours which Brecon Baroque fully exploit. The pulsating energy of No 10, the organ-like sonority of the middle movement of No 9, the gradual acceleration of the opening of No 11 and above all the electrifying drive of the famous No 8 leave one breathless with admiration. There are added ornaments and flourishes (rather naughtily at the end of No 8), and Rachel Podger's crack team deliver miracles of virtuosity;Nicholas Kenyon. --The Observer 22.03.15
S**T
A luminous reading
The concerto - comprising twelve individual violin concertos with one, two or four violins, strings and continuo and in four instances an added cello - is brisk in tempo, luminous, full of energy and vitality, exhilarating, brimming with musical ideas, varied and contrasting. Also despite its generally joyous character, it is at times palpably tender and melancholic. It flows effortlessly and each of the two discs comprising the work, seems to come to an end in no time. Despite the great variety of the work and the individual identity of the violin concertos, there is an affinity and cohesion which binds the work together and points to the inventiveness and musical genius of Vivaldi.The easy receptiveness by the listener belies the complexity of its internal structure which has to be pointed to be appreciated: the pattern across the set as a whole that emerges is four groups of three concertos. Each group begins with a concerto in which all instruments can take on solo roles, followed by a concerto in which the concertino of the two violins and cello predominates, and finally with a concerto where the first violin is definitely 'primus inter pares'.And in the event there are still lingering doubts, the reader can be reassured that 'L' Estro Armonico' has received the seal of approval by no lesser giant of the Baroque than J. S. Bach who arranged no fewer than six concertos of the work for organ or keyboard instruments and strings.
A**O
Vivaldi is Vivaldi
Collection of twelve concerts written by Vivaldi in 1711. This work has tremendously increased Vivaldi’s reputation as master of the baroque. This is a good recording. I had the I Musici recording of the same work for Philips and this is a very good alternative. Clear, brilliant, harmonious. This is one of the records you drop in the CD Player and continue working on your task of the moment.
S**S
This is Vivaldi at his very best and you won’t find a better recording of his L’Estro Armonico Concertos than these.
This is Vivaldi at his very best and you won’t find a better recording of his L’Estro Armonico Concertos than these.I have other recordings of these concertos but Rachel Podger, who directs Brecon Baroque brings them to life in a remarkable display of her art, making them sound fresh and new. In the sleeve notes, she says that Vivaldi’s musical shapes and figurations seem to exist in order to please and surprise and that in these concertos he has taken extraordinary trouble to exhibit his craft to the world. In these superb recordings Channel Classics have matched that. The sound quality is truly amazing, so much so that on fairly decent equipment you can hear every instrument in glorious detail and the music seems to reach out from the speakers or headphones to grab you. I usually listen to music while reading or typing but this disc somehow forces me to stop, listen and allow myself to be immersed in its sheer brilliance and beauty of these wonderful pieces.Five stars are just not enough to rate these amazing recordings.
K**M
L'Estro Magnifico!
If you like Vivaldi, then this is a must have recording. Rachel Podger and the Brecon Baroque. Excellent playing, every note is crisp and vibrant and no one is taking any liberties with the score. The recording is excellent too. Anyone lucky enough to have a surround system can enjoy the immersive sound of this 5.0 Multi-channel recording. Good sleeve notes, in a nicely presented 2 C.D. gatefold package.
R**N
A pleasing interpretation
A pleasing interpretation of Vivaldi L'Estro Armonico, a collection of 12 short concertos for violin and chamber orchestra.
L**S
I have always enjoyed the Pinnock recording
This is something special. I have always enjoyed the Pinnock recording, which has a more orchestral sound, and I hesitated before buying another. However, this more chamber scaled performance is outstanding. The SACD recording is a little close for my taste but without being abrasive and there is a great deal of detail in the performance which one does need to hear. It is a bit like hearing the works for the first time and I would be dishonest if I didn't place it ahead of the Pinnock recording, which it makes sound 'ordinary or at least more generalised. I can only imagine what it sounds like in 4 channel. Highly recommended.
T**Y
One of the best classical music CDs I have ever bought...
...And I have bought a few. Great music played superbly and the sound is nice and crisp, not too close or too far away. It's a pity that so many people only know Vivaldi for his Four Seasons because so much of his other work is exceptional and in my view, better. Buy now, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
F**Y
great recordings
Rachel Podger's playing is excellent