The nine concertos on this disc, being composed only for strings, are essentially concertos without soloists. Even so, Vivaldi chocks them full of virtuoso writing, where players as a group show off their interpretive skill and technical mastery. Also on display–in each movement of every concerto–is Vivaldi’s seemingly inexhaustible gift for melody. Especially fetching are the G minor (RV 157) and C minor (RV 119) concertos, while the B-flat major “Conca” concerto (RV 163) is novel for its emulation of the sound of a conch shell.
The three Sinfonias follow the same three-movement, fast-slow-fast pattern as the concertos and exhibit similar winning characteristics. The CD opens with the C major Sinfonia (RV 111A), a joyous and engaging work that immediately creates a bright mood. The same goes for the Sinfonia in G (RV 146) that closes the program. Conductor Andrea Marcon leads fresh, vital, and emotionally transparent performances with the Venice Baroque Orchestra, whose immaculate ensemble balance and impeccable musicianship highlight Vivaldi’s exquisite instrumental writing.
The recording, although a bit bright and displaying more lateral spread than depth, captures the ensemble sound with remarkable clarity. This is a natural choice for Vivaldi fans–but also will serve as an enlightening alternative for listeners who know Vivaldi only for his Four Seasons concertos.
