Search - Pietro Antonio Locatelli, Luca Fanfoni, Reale Concerto :: Pietro Antonio Locatelli: L'Arte del Violino (12 Violin Concertos with 24 Capricci) - Luca Fanfoni / Reale Concerto

Excellent recording.

jcoop | Ashland, MA United States | 11/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't aware of this group, or the soloist prior to purchasing the set. Its only competitor is a set by Wallfisch on Hyperion, which, like many Hyperion CD's, is priced at about $20 per CD, for reasons I can't fathom. This set is about half that price. The recording is excellent, and Fanfoni is spectacular in each of the Capricci. As Paginini was apparently influenced by Locatelli, the music sounds like a more baroque Paginini. Overall, the sound quality is excellent, as is the performance, and I recommend the set highly."

Yes buy this despite my four stars

William Hobbs | 03/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just went on a virtuoso violin kick and bought this set on a whim. I have never heard of the violinist or the ensemble so I was a little nervous, but I enjoy this set thoroughly and recommend it as a first choice. The soloist is really fantastic, despite the odd technical glitch, and the orchestra is first-rate. You may think I'm crazy as you listen to the first concerto and hear him biff some of the passage-work (there is a whole section where he can't quite make the D-string speak) and make some ugly down-bows in the tuttis but the violin writing here is so absurdly difficult that you have to give him a break. AND he is so much better in all the other concertos. I bet you can't name a SINGLE recording of Paganini Caprices that is actually perfect, and this is so obviously in the same technical league as those pieces. What I like about him is that his tone is really full and beautiful, not anemic or scratchy like the other violinists listed here on Amazon, and that he is not afraid to use vibrato or make a singing phrase. There is so much beautiful music and so much crazy stuff in this set that you will love it!



My only downside is that he should not have conducted this set while playing. The pieces are just too difficult and the ensemble suffers frequently because he can't do everything. Hence the four stars. Unless we get a recording of one of the big stars (I would like to see Hilary Hahn play these, with a conductor) I cannot imagine that you will enjoy any set more than this one. Buy it right now!"