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Presto News - 3rd August 2009The Vivaldi Edition |
 One of the most ambitious recording projects ever undertaken is the Vivaldi Edition, conceived by the Italian musicologist Alberto Basso back in 2000. He gained support from the independent label Opus 111 (which almost before the series began was acquired by Naïve) and over the last nine years has released over thirty volumes of rare Vivaldi masterpieces. There is still a long way to go though, the original objective being to record all the 450 works preserved in the massive collection of autograph manuscripts held in the Biblioteca Nazionale in Turin.  Striking cover designs in the Vivaldi Edition The really incredible thing about this collection of manuscripts is that it is almost certainly exactly the same as the collection of scores that Vivaldi had in his home in Vienna when he died in 1741. Usually over the years such a large collection will get gradually split up, sold off, partially lost and sometimes destroyed. So the fact that this collection of manuscripts is all together in one place over 250 years later is quite remarkable and highly unusual. The Vivaldi Edition's goal is to make this extraordinary wealth of music available to the public and at the same time to reveal the full genius of Vivaldi, not only as a composer of instrumental music, for which he was already known, but as the creator of some of the 18th-century's most exhilarating vocal music. Vivaldi devoted a major part of his career to composing operas and I think it is probably this area of his output that is gaining most from the Vivaldi Edition. These works have often not even been performed in recent times (let alone recorded), and to me they demonstrate that Vivaldi’s genius as a composer is far greater than that demonstrated in his popular concertos. The musical factors that make his Four Seasons so outstanding are the rhythmic vitality and the instrumental colours. Well, in his operas these same ingredients produce a dramatic quality far in advance of its time, and evoke the moods and feelings of the characters in a way that probably wouldn’t be matched again until Mozart. I’ve enjoyed almost all this series to date, and eagerly await the new discovery that each new release brings. I mention it particularly today as we’ve just started a special offer on the whole of the Naïve label, so you can currently enjoy this series, as well as the numerous other outstanding recordings from the Naïve catalogue at 20% off. Browse Naive Special Offer:
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
New Releases3rd August 2009 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Stabat MaterDaniel Taylor (counter-tenor and Director), Emma Kirkby (soprano), Theatre of Early MusicThis disc features beautiful and moving works reflecting on the grief of the Virgin Mary written by great Vivaldi, Pergolesi and Bach. Daniel Taylor directs the Theatre of Early Music as well as performing himself - “The beauty of his voice will stop you in your tracks.” Gramophone |
 Brahms - The String Quintets Nos. 1 & 2The Nash EnsembleThe String Quintets are two of Brahms’ greatest chamber works. The op88 was a favourite of the composer, and he wrote to his publisher that "you’ll never receive anything more beautiful from me". Strangely it has been slow to find affection with the public, which is a shame as it contains some of the composer's most exploratory and personal music - the second movement especially so. |
 Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 3Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme JärviThis disc is the final instalment in BIS’s Tchaikovsky symphony cycle with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi, a cycle which as a whole can be described as resolutely unsentimental, aiming to rid the score of the melodramatic excess that has become part of the performance tradition. The disc features the Third Symphony, nick-named ‘The Polish’ thanks to the marking of the final movement –Tempo di Polacca. |
 Monteverdi - Scherzi MusicaliEmanuela Galli (soprano), La Venexiana, Claudio CavinaLa Venexiana has recorded all eight volumes of Monteverdi's madrigals, the Selva morale e spirituale and L'Orfeo. Here we have the Scherzi musicali published in Venice by Bartolomeo Magni in 1632, although pieces from other publications, such as the Arie di diversi raccolte of Vincenti (1634) and the Quarto scherzo delle ariose vaghezze of Milanuzzi (1624) are also included. By way of contrast, the finishing touch is provided by a dazzling and moving rendition of the Lamento di Arianna in an arrangement by Cavina himself, wherein the voice of Emanuela Galli, the star of this disc, is draped in a string ensemble led by Svetlana Fomina. |
 Martinu, Foerster & Novak - Cello ConcertosJiri Barta (cello), Prague Philharmonia, Jakub HrusaJirí Bárta, who for a number of years has been considered one of the finest cellists both at home and abroad, has certainly not chosen the three concertos on this CD at random. Bohuslav Martinu’s first concerto, in the definitive 1955 version, is among the works Bárta most cherishes and performs most frequently. At the same time, this opus bridges the imaginary space between the other compositions. Its first version originated in 1930, at the time when J. B. Foerster was completing his one and only cello concerto. This work of a composer with a Czech soul and European experience has its world premiere on this recording. |
 Rameau: Les Indes GalantesChristophe Rousset (harpsichord)The remarkable French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset tackles Rameau’s relatively unknown instrumental transcription of his popular opéra-ballet, Les Indes Galantes. |
 Villa-Lobos - Complete Choros & Bachianas BrasileirasSão Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Choir of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra & Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, John NeschlingThe life and music of Villa-Lobos is intimately linked with the emergence of Brazil as a nation and cultural force during the first half of the 20th century. This applies especially to the two great cycles that he composed between 1920 and 1945: the 12 Choros and the 9 Bachianas Brasileiras. |
 JokesQuintetto BislaccoA curious CD, for the silly season. Founded a few years ago on the initiative of five musicians rather bored by the usual daily routine, this ensemble resolved to fight against the irresistible torpor which rules over concert halls. Right from the first concerts (if we exclude the volley of stones of March 2004 and the hail of vegetables and over-ripe fruit on the occasion of a concert in Borgnasco in June last year), audiences have shown their appreciation for the performances of the five shady characters. |
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