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Cedille

Vivaldi: The Complete Viola d'Amore Concertos / Pine, Ars Antigua

$19.99

Details

Composer
VIVALDI, ANTONIO
Artist
Pine, Ars Antigua, Smith
Format
CD
Label
Cedille
Released
Sep 11, 2015
Catalog #
CDR 159
UPC
735131915922

About


The viola d’amore is a curious beast. It has extra strings (like the baryton) that exist for no purpose other than to provide resonance, producing a fuzzy timbral halo that sweetens the slightly nasal, husky tone of the instrument, rather like a sort of mild continuous vibrato. When played with perfect intonation such as we might expect from Rachel Barton Pine, the result is captivatingly mellow and expressive, even in virtuoso passages. Vivaldi composed eight concertos for viola d’amore, and here they all are, smartly gathered together and performed to the hilt.

Although Vivaldi limited himself tonally in these works (to D, F, and A, with four in D minor), the instrument’s unusual tunings, combined with inventive scoring, ensure variety and contrast. The Concerto in F major pits the viola d’amore against a wind ensemble of oboes, horns, and bassoon, with the oboes and horns muted. I’m not sure what a muted baroque oboe is, but they sound lovely here and the horns also never turn gnarly–they really do complement the timbre of the viola d’amore. There’s also a double concerto, RV 540, for viola d’amore and lute, with the superb Hopkinson Smith on hand to partner Barton Pine.

The players of Ars Antigua accompany with evident relish, although as usual with today’s period instrument groups the strings could use some natural vibrato in the slow movements. Leaving it out or minimizing it the way they do is neither stylish nor “authentic”, but when the playing itself is so pointed and in tune it matters very little. The fact that the sonics are drop-dead gorgeous and the balances absolutely perfect also counts for a lot. If you thought that Vivaldi all sounds the same, consider this release as a welcome corrective.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro 03:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  2. 2 II. Largo 02:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  3. 3 III. Allegro 03:08
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  4. 4 I. Allegro 03:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  5. 5 II. Largo 01:51
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  6. 6 III. Allegro 03:22
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  7. 7 I. Largo - Allegro 04:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Largo - Allegro
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  8. 8 II. Largo 03:46
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  9. 9 III. Allegro 02:56
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  10. 10 I. Allegro 04:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  11. 11 II. Largo 01:44
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  12. 12 III. Allegro 03:20
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  13. 13 I. Allegro 04:03
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  14. 14 II. Andante 01:43
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  15. 15 III. Allegro 03:20
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  16. 16 I. Allegro 03:11
    Track
    16
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  17. 17 II. Andante 03:40
    Track
    17
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  18. 18 III. Allegro 03:09
    Track
    18
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  19. 19 I. Vivace 03:09
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Vivace
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  20. 20 II. Largo 03:07
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  21. 21 III. Allegro 03:03
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  22. 22 I. Allegro 05:26
    Track
    22
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:26
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine, Hopkinson Smith
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  23. 23 II. Largo 03:05
    Track
    23
    Title
    II. Largo
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine, Hopkinson Smith
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua
  24. 24 III. Allegro 03:30
    Track
    24
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer
    Rachel Barton Pine, Hopkinson Smith
    Ensemble
    Ars Antigua