Search - Antonio Vivaldi, Simon Standage, Collegium Musicum 90 :: Vivaldi: Double Concertos

Double pleasure

Anton Zimmerling | Moscow, Russia | 09/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am suprised that nobody has reviewed this excellent CD. Probably those who love romantic Vivaldi consider the leader of Collegium Musicum 90 , violinist and conductor Simon Standage, too authentic and dry, while true 'authenticists' dismiss Standage for being not authentic enough and too strong.

Collegium Musicum 90 is a first class ensemble. It does not produce an Italianate sound and does not charm the listener with scintillating timbres, but it shows how balanced and at times powerful a chamber orchestra playing period instruments can be - and should be.

The interpretations are nuanced and well thought-out. Although Standage played in the English Concert with Trevor Pinnock for a long time, his own approach to Vivaldi differs from Pinnock's. Standage's tempos are more restrained and not as fast as Pinnock's: his sense of rhythm is immaculate and his deliberately moderate tempos often provide a dramatic effect. The advantages of Standage's approach are most evident in the first movement of Vivaldi's concerto in G minor for two cellos RV 531 - one of the boldest utterances of the composer. Every amateur would try to express the feverish impetus of this movement, and many conductors speed up, make abrupt accelerations and totally ruin the piece. Standage fortunately holds the reins - and the demonic motif gains in power and simply blows down the listener. I prefer this interpretation of RV 531 to Biondi (two variants), Giardino Armonico and Koopman/Ma. Biondi has the weakest cellists, and Ma and Co show the weakest taste here.

Another great music on this CD is D minor concerto for two oboes RV 535 - a sombre meditative piece. Other concertos are really good, too. For the most part, this is no frolic Vivaldi with hopping and twittering sounds, but rather calm and pensive music.

The soloists including Standage himself and cellists David Watkin/Jane Coe who excel in RV 531 are perfect.

The price of this CD is rather high (Chandos is not the cheapest label in the world), but it certainly deserves it. I also recommend an exellent Chandos/Chaconne series of Telemann's concert music with Standage and the same ensemble.

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