Praetorius/Vivaldi/Warlock: Works arr guitar

Advantages: Exciting playing, premiere recordings
Disadvantages: It's another Four Seasons

...Why on earth has yet ANOTHER recording of the Four Seasons been released? That's what I asked myself when this advance copy of Giuliano Carmignola and the Venice Baroque Orchestra playing Vivaldi's best-known work arrived. (Released 18th September 2000) Firstly, this recording has not only the Seasons, but also premiere recordings of three other Vivaldi Violin Concertos - RV257 in Eb, RV376 in Bb and RV211 in D. Secondly, Carmignola was given access to the original manuscripts of the Seasons and has corrected the errors commonly found in the performing scores. Thirdly, this is absolutely the best recording in recent years. The sound is crisp and bright and very 'live' - if you turn the sound up high enough you can hear the players breathing in sympathy with the music. Carmignola plays like one inspired by Vivaldi himself... Read review

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Advantages: Superb strings, Vivacious virtuoso violin
Disadvantages: None

...continuo. 2. Cimento Dell'armonia E Dell'inventione, Op.8 Nos. 1-4: Le Quattro Stagioni Among his concertos, Vivaldi wrote a number of programmatic works. Concertos that tell a story.The Four Seasons is the most famous of these works. Vivaldi wrote this around 1725. Its title, Cimento Dell'armonia E Dell'inventione, translated means, The contest between harmony and invention. To achieve this, Vivali gives each movement a recurring theme and then adds contrast and decoration. Kennedy has made this concerto his own. He plays it with a passion and a brilliance. It shows Kennedy’s skills to the full with the contrasting moods and affects. i.La Primavera: Spring in E major The recurring theme in Spring is played by Kennedy’s solo violin representing a sleeping goatherd. The orchestral violins portray rustling leaves, the viola the bark of his dog... Read review

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Advantages: Fresh and enthusiastic rendition of a great classic
Disadvantages: May have to be ordered

...Concerti per liuto e mandolino is one of Antonio Vivaldi’s lesser played works, this may be because of the complexity orchestras try to build into it, and had been considered unplayable by many for a time. I had been unable to get hold of the version I wanted for quite some time and eventually it was bought as a gift for me :o) Unlike the Four Seasons this is not the stuff that muzac is made from although, as with much of Vivaldi’s work, you can hear strains of popular music in it, funnily enough someone thought I was playing the theme music from ‘Only when I laugh’ and I have to admit, that in parts, it sounds like a direct lift. The music is from Das Alte Werk library and is played on period instruments using the techniques of the day, this is probably why this recording is so good to listen to. The insert... Read review

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