Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto, RV 484 in E minor

As part of the successful Vivaldi Edition, Naïve’s ‘Concerti per fagotto’ is one of the rarely recorded versions of Vivaldi’s Concertos for bassoon and the first dedicated to this period instrument within this collection.

This recording features a selection of the finest works for bassoon composed in the baroque music period. Vivaldi is the most significant composer ever of bassoon concertos with his own oeuvre including 39 concertos for the instrument.

Sergio Azzolini is a multi-prize winner at many international events. He is acclaimed for his recordings with major European orchestras and is a successful soloist with leading early music ensembles all over Europe. Azzolini is particularly familiar with Vivaldi’s works. As a conductor, he mounted two unpublished Venetian operas including Vivaldi’s La fida ninfa and worked on two other releases within the Vivaldi Edition. ‘Concerti per fagotto’ is a rigorous new edition of Vivaldi’s work which is careful to preserve all the details found in the original manuscripts from the Venetian composer.

This CD presents four bassoon concertos, two flute concertos, along with a concerto for flute and bassoon entitled ‘La notte’. For this recording, Arion performs as a chamber ensemble of 9 musicians and features bassoonist Mathieu Lussier and flautist Claire Guimond.

“This recording is a delight: full of energy and Vivaldi at his best. It is truly vivid Vivaldi and I think before you play The Four Seasons yet again you might want to try something new and fresh—and just as worthy.” Kemer Thomson, San Diego Harpsichord Society

The title of this CD Bellezza Crudel means ‘beautiful cruelty’ and the music reflects the Venetian tradition of masquerade and intrigue. This is undoubtedly Vivaldi’s world, one of heartfelt, musical intensity ably realised by Tone Wik on this delightful collection of four Cantatas, interspersed with two Concertos.

These are magnificent performances from bassoonist Frans Robert Berkhout. He was lead bassoonist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Amsterdam Bach Soloists. As a baroque bassoon and dulcian player he joined many authentic ensembles such as the Leonhardt Consort, La Petite Bande and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. La Suave Melodia was formed in 1998 and have since been highly acclaimed in both the concert hall and the recording studio.