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Europe Galante|Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'invenzione, Op. 8

Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'invenzione, Op. 8

Europa Galante & Fabio Biondi

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The four concerti in The Four Seasons of Antonio Vivaldi have probably earned the distinction of being the most frequently recorded classical works in the digital era. Originally published as part of a set of 12 concerti as Vivaldi's Opus 8, the other eight concerti also get some attention, particularly La tempesta di mare, but the set as a whole is comparatively seldom recorded. In Europa Galante's Virgin Classics release, Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, violinist Fabio Biondi, who has recorded The Four Seasons at least once before for Opus 111, leads his expert ensemble in the whole of the Opus 8 set. The 12 concerti fit comfortably onto two CDs, with some reshuffling of the pieces into a different order than that assembled by Vivaldi, though not through splitting up the "big four."
The very first thing that comes to mind in listening to Biondi on this Virgin recording is how restrained and natural this interpretation sounds versus some other, and perhaps more highly publicized, recordings by others. Biondi is not auditioning for the Kronos Quartet here; his tone is sweet, finger work fleet, and he makes sparing, but expressive use of vibrato. Europa Galante is in a relatively small configuration in this outing, but Virgin's excellent recording conveys the impression of a bigger band. Some tempos are zippy indeed; the fast-moving parts of L'inverno threaten to catch fire, whereas certain movements, such as the final Allegro in La primavera, are given plenty of room to breathe and thus, are a little longer than most performances. Elasticity is the key to Biondi's interpretation, but it is never employed in a manner that causes the music to sag, as in some older, modern instrument recordings.
The band does a great job of coordinating some of the special effects used in these works -- the driving accents in La caccia are marvelously tasty and point up Vivaldi's revolutionary approach to rhythm in instrumental music. Europa Galante's Virgin recording of Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione should please all but those who have zero tolerance for period instrument performers, and is so charismatic that even some among the latter might make an exception for it.

© TiVo

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Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'invenzione, Op. 8

Europe Galante

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1
Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons), Violin Concerto in E Major Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269, "Spring": I. Allegro
Fabio Biondi
00:03:03

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

2
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": II. Largo e pianissimo sempre
Fabio Biondi
00:02:11

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

3
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 "Spring": III. Allegro
Fabio Biondi
00:03:50

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

4
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer": I. Allegro non molto
Fabio Biondi
00:05:00

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

5
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer": II. Adagio
Fabio Biondi
00:01:49

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

6
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 "Summer": III. Presto
Fabio Biondi
00:02:25

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

7
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": I. Allegro
Fabio Biondi
00:04:49

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

8
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": II. Adagio molto
Fabio Biondi
00:02:40

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

9
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 "Autumn": III. Allegro "La caccia"
Fabio Biondi
00:03:03

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

10
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": I. Allegro non molto
Fabio Biondi
00:03:12

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

11
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": II. Largo
Fabio Biondi
00:01:59

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

12
The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in F Minor, Op. 8 No. 4, RV 297 "Winter": III. Allegro
Fabio Biondi
00:02:33

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

13
Violin Concerto in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 5, RV 253: I. Presto
Europe Galante
00:02:54

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

14
Violin Concerto in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 5, RV 253: II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:06

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

15
Violin Concerto in E-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 5, RV 253: III. Presto
Europe Galante
00:03:08

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

16
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 7, RV 242 "Per Pisendel": I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:03:17

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

17
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 7, RV 242 "Per Pisendel": II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:00:59

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

18
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 7, RV 242 "Per Pisendel": III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:31

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

DISC 2

1
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 8 No. 11, RV 210: I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:04:27

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

2
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 8 No. 11, RV 210: II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:14

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

3
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 8 No. 11, RV 210: III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:04:10

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

4
Violin Concerto in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362 "La Caccia": I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:58

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

5
Violin Concerto in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362 "La Caccia": II. Adagio
Europe Galante
00:01:36

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

6
Violin Concerto in B-Flat Major, Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362 "La Caccia": III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:29

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

7
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 9, RV 454: I. Allegro moderato
Europe Galante
00:02:48

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

8
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 9, RV 454: II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:05

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

9
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 9, RV 454: III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:24

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

10
Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 8, RV 332: I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:44

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

11
Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 8, RV 332: II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:26

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

12
Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 8, RV 332: III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:03:45

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

13
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 6, RV 180 "Il piacere": I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:57

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

14
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 6, RV 180 "Il piacere": II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:20

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

15
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 6, RV 180 "Il piacere": III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:38

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

16
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 12, RV 449: I. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:02:59

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

17
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 12, RV 449: II. Largo
Europe Galante
00:02:51

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

18
Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 8 No. 12, RV 449: III. Allegro
Europe Galante
00:03:10

Antonio Vivaldi, Composer - Nicolas Bartholomée, Producer - Fabio Biondi, Conductor, Violin, MainArtist - Europa Galante, Ensemble, MainArtist - Frédéric Briant, Engineer

A Warner Classics release, © 2012 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics/Erato release, ℗ 2001 Parlophone Records Limited

Albumbeschreibung

The four concerti in The Four Seasons of Antonio Vivaldi have probably earned the distinction of being the most frequently recorded classical works in the digital era. Originally published as part of a set of 12 concerti as Vivaldi's Opus 8, the other eight concerti also get some attention, particularly La tempesta di mare, but the set as a whole is comparatively seldom recorded. In Europa Galante's Virgin Classics release, Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, violinist Fabio Biondi, who has recorded The Four Seasons at least once before for Opus 111, leads his expert ensemble in the whole of the Opus 8 set. The 12 concerti fit comfortably onto two CDs, with some reshuffling of the pieces into a different order than that assembled by Vivaldi, though not through splitting up the "big four."
The very first thing that comes to mind in listening to Biondi on this Virgin recording is how restrained and natural this interpretation sounds versus some other, and perhaps more highly publicized, recordings by others. Biondi is not auditioning for the Kronos Quartet here; his tone is sweet, finger work fleet, and he makes sparing, but expressive use of vibrato. Europa Galante is in a relatively small configuration in this outing, but Virgin's excellent recording conveys the impression of a bigger band. Some tempos are zippy indeed; the fast-moving parts of L'inverno threaten to catch fire, whereas certain movements, such as the final Allegro in La primavera, are given plenty of room to breathe and thus, are a little longer than most performances. Elasticity is the key to Biondi's interpretation, but it is never employed in a manner that causes the music to sag, as in some older, modern instrument recordings.
The band does a great job of coordinating some of the special effects used in these works -- the driving accents in La caccia are marvelously tasty and point up Vivaldi's revolutionary approach to rhythm in instrumental music. Europa Galante's Virgin recording of Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione should please all but those who have zero tolerance for period instrument performers, and is so charismatic that even some among the latter might make an exception for it.

© TiVo

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