Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 1 'La primavera' rv 269 in E major. E-dur. en mi majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro non molto
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Adagio - Presto
Concerto No. 2 'L'estate' rv 315 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Presto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: II Adagio molto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: I Allegro non molto
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 3 'L'autunmo' rv 293 in F major. F-dur. en fa majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: I Presto
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 5 'La tempesta di mare' rv 253 in E flat major. Es-dur. en mi bemol majeur: III Presto
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: II Largo
Concertos No. 6 'Il piacere' rv 180 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: II Largo
Concerto No. 7 rv 242 in D minor. d-moll. en re mineur: III Allegro
Track Listings (21) - Disc #2
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Largo
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: I Allegro
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: II Largo
Concertos No. 8 rv 332 in G minor. g-moll. en sol mineur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: II Adagio
Concerto No. 10 'La caccia' rv 362 in B flat major. B-dur. en si bemol majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 11 rv 210 in D major. D-dur. en re majeur: III Allegro
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: I Allegro
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: II Largo
Concerto No. 12 rv 178 in C major. C-dur. en ut majeur: III Allegro
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: I Allegro
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: II Andante
Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Strings rv 546 in A major. A-dur. en la majeur: III Allegro
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: I Allegro Molto
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: II Andante (molto)
Concerto for two violins rv 516 in G major. G-dur. en sol majeur: III Allegro
These days it's fashionable among Baroque music aficionados to say that only the young Italian groups like Il Giardino Armonico have the flair and imagination to make Vivaldi's concertos sound exciting instead of rout... more »ine. Well, it isn't necessarily so. The Four Seasons is surely as overexposed as classical music can be, yet the UK-based Raglan Baroque Players and the gifted violinist Monica Huggett make enchanting and even exciting music out of it. Their playing is clean, energetic, and rhythmically supple--granted, they don't go to the astonishing extremes of tempo you sometimes hear from Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano, but they're a long way from "sewing-machine Baroque." Dynamics are another matter: Huggett, in particular, plays daringly softly at times--and her courage pays off, drawing a listener close as if to hear her whisper secrets. (It was brave also of Virgin's recording engineers not to pump up the volume electronically.) Along with The Four Seasons, this two-for-one budget reissue includes the other eight concertos that Vivaldi published in his collection Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ("The Contest Between Harmony and Invention"). Huggett and her colleagues play them with verve, but to these ears, at least, most of those remaining concertos don't have the same inventiveness and spark as their more famous counterparts. (Concerto No. 10, "The Hunt," is engaging, however, as are the double concertos that round out the second disc.) This release is an excellent value, although you probably shouldn't listen to it all in one sitting. --Matthew Westphal« less
These days it's fashionable among Baroque music aficionados to say that only the young Italian groups like Il Giardino Armonico have the flair and imagination to make Vivaldi's concertos sound exciting instead of routine. Well, it isn't necessarily so. The Four Seasons is surely as overexposed as classical music can be, yet the UK-based Raglan Baroque Players and the gifted violinist Monica Huggett make enchanting and even exciting music out of it. Their playing is clean, energetic, and rhythmically supple--granted, they don't go to the astonishing extremes of tempo you sometimes hear from Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano, but they're a long way from "sewing-machine Baroque." Dynamics are another matter: Huggett, in particular, plays daringly softly at times--and her courage pays off, drawing a listener close as if to hear her whisper secrets. (It was brave also of Virgin's recording engineers not to pump up the volume electronically.) Along with The Four Seasons, this two-for-one budget reissue includes the other eight concertos that Vivaldi published in his collection Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione ("The Contest Between Harmony and Invention"). Huggett and her colleagues play them with verve, but to these ears, at least, most of those remaining concertos don't have the same inventiveness and spark as their more famous counterparts. (Concerto No. 10, "The Hunt," is engaging, however, as are the double concertos that round out the second disc.) This release is an excellent value, although you probably shouldn't listen to it all in one sitting. --Matthew Westphal
CD Reviews
Not the average 4 seasons...better.
Bank of America | Houston, TX | 04/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Vivaldi's four seasons needs no introduction, nor any avertising. The first movement of the spring concerto can be heard on elevators, tv commercials, fancy restaurants, or any other place where the atmosphere requires such decorum.All this aside, this four seasons performance deserves some attention. First, this cd not only has the famed four sesons, but it also has the rest of the concertos that makes up the entire published work (op.8) commonly called the 'Contest Between Harmony and Invention'. This cd not only makes for an enjoyable listening experience, but also makes for a great collector's item. Any serious classical music collector can tell anyone that cds containing full works are better as collections than cds having highlights or excerpts.In addition, Ms. Huggett's playing style is a joy to listen. As a performer, Ms. Huggett definately does not shy away at the solo passages. On the contrary, Ms. Huggett attacks the solo parts with passion and verve as well she should. I cannot help but wonder that Vivaldi would have wanted to hear these concertos played in this manner.Concerto no. 9 is my particular favorite in this cd. Ms. Huggett's playing gives this concerto a particular internal-fire energy that I have not ever heard before.Definately well worth the money."
A Bargain and Then Some
Bank of America | 06/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If all you know of Vivaldi's "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" are the concertos called "The Four Seasons," then you know the essential Vivaldi contained therein. Concerto No. 5, "La Tempesta di mare," known in other incarnations is pleasing, as are the interesting concertos for violin and cello and two violins. But Vivaldi lavished all his poetry on "The Four Seasons." In these performances, the poetry emerges with great verve, and both soloist and conductor lavish such care on Vivaldi's clever tone painting that it is like hearing the thrice-familiar works for the first--oh, well, let's say the second time! You hear more detail the second time around anyway, as you will here.With fine sound and a price that is less than many a mid-price CD of "The Four Seasons" alone, this is a great bargain for my money--or anybody's money, I'd guess."
A Very Good Opus 8
Ross Kennett | Narooma, NSW Australia | 02/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some few ago I decided not to buy any more four seasons/ opus 8, but I was reminded of this CD, recorded in 1986, when looking for more Raglan Baroque recordings after being very pleased with their Locatelli Opus 1. At the price I had to have it. It follows their 1986 recording of Vivaldi's opus 9, La Cetra,(see my review), and is another excellent, even better, recording. The concertos, certainly the first 5, are very familiar and of the highest standard. There are very many recordings of the Four Seasons, but this is not just another one, its top rate. Huggett does not try to dominate the performance, she plays with Raglan Baroque, not over them, the music flows beautifully. As with opus 9, a lute has been used in the continuo, which adds a lushness to the sound, I would have liked to hear more of it. The two unpublished concertos which have been added to fill the CD are certainly worth listening to, particularly the one for two violins. I compared this recording with a 1993 one by Manze with Amsterdam Baroque and found Manze's tone a bit harsh and his playing a bit dominant. Fabio Biondi's version was based on manuscripts that showed how these works might have been played by a virtuoso of the time, they are highly ornamented and dramatic, great to listen to but difficult to compare, you love them or hate them. ( I love them in small doses)
I can highly recommend Monica Huggett and Raglan Baroque's version of Vivaldi's opus 8.
( An aside on the price; many years ago when I first started work I bought the occasional 12in LP of Beethoven etc, they cost 52% of my weekly wage, this double CD cost 3% of my weekly superanuation, and that includes overseas postage. We've never had it so good ! )"
Probably the best one on the market
Jonathan J. Casey | the twin cities | 09/26/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I spent almost a year trying to track this CD down, before this 2 disc dirt cheap re-release. Wish I'd waited longer, as I ended up with a single disc instead of the full Op. 8. It was worth the effort though, as this is an incredible interpretation of an over-heard work. While I personally find much of Il Giardino Armonico's (now out of print) performance to be absolutely incredible, The Raglan Baroque and Monica Huggett perform a more subdued, but almost as equally stunning rendition. I think the manner in which they play with rhythm is particularly engaging, and often quite subtle.This release does not contain the all-important poetry that accompanies the four seasons, which is unfortunate. Track down those words because they really enrich your experience with the music, and Huggett's performance in particular. You can hear that she was paying attention to these words, and to the specifically programmatic nature of these works. This attention to detail comes through and speaks highly of the performances throughout. The liner notes do not list the players, either, but Kraemer uses an archlute for continuo. The recording was made in 1988, and apparently was the first one to do so.For a solid, more traditional performance, I'd recommend Pinnock and The English Concert. If you can, track down the Il Giardino Armonico performance (on Teldec), but otherwise pick up this great bargain."
A Vivaldi bargain that is better than most recordings
Mike Birman | Brooklyn, New York USA | 05/30/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Recorded in Dec. 1988 and March 1989, this is the way Vivaldi on original instruments was played back then: a bit four-square, slightly analytical, without the Italianate charm and eccentricity one finds in the wonderful recording of this same Op.8 by Fabio Biondi and his Europa Galante. This recording is thoroughly enjoyable, with a nice and jaunty performance of the ubiquitous Four Seasons. But Biondi's Europa Galante recording is gutsier, the music seeming to pour out of his skin as if it lived inside it along with his heart and lungs. It is just slightly off-kilter, offering surprises at every turn. He never allows the listener to get too comfortable, sometimes pitching a sonic curveball because authentic Vivaldi occasionally has the quality of strangeness. As a first choice, I would suggest the Biondi recording on the same Virgin label. If you prefer your Vivaldi played without eccentricity or of you already own the Biondi recording, I can hardly think of a better 2nd choice than this very fine Monica Huggett and the Raglan Baroque Players version of the Op.8. It is thoroughly satisfying and very well played. The recorded sound is rich and full, featuring enough instrumental transparency so that you can easily hear Vivaldi's inner instrumental lines and enjoy his contrapuntal mastery. And the price for two CDs is an amazing bargain considering the high quality of the presentation. If your budget is a consideration, this is the set to get.
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1