Vivaldi: Concerto, Op. 3 No. 12 'Con Violino Solo obligato', RV 265

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin transports us to the Venice of the ‘red-haired priest’.

Vivaldi gives pride of place to virtuosity: the concerto grosso tends to be supplanted by solo instrumentalists – as is clearly demonstrated by all the works presented on this CD. A majority of ‘double concertos’ (i.e. with two soloists) alternates with solo or ripieno concertos.

A feast of sumptuous music-making!

The stylish sweetness Marriner and his Academy bring to Vivaldi have a place of their own in the pantheon of Vivaldi recordings and these eight concertos amply testify this in their breezy melodiousness and sharpness of attack.

This project is a collaboration between the two organists Margherita Gianola and Silvio Celeghin with Francesco Fanna, conductor and director at the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, in which large part of Vivaldi’s manuscripts and scores are archived. The CD is a collection of Concertos where the organ is the absolute protagonist as soloist and in an interesting interaction with string instruments. The title of the release is inspired by the two organs of the XVIII century in the Basilica dei Frari in Venice which are exceptionally appropriate for playing Vivaldi’s music. The Callido (1795) is very versatile and enhances the whole sound, while the Piaggia (1732), the only organ in Venice made while Vivaldi was still alive, is elegant, light and full of verve.

Rec.date: 2000 (formerly available from Symphonia)

With the publication of L’Estro Armonico, Op. 3 (1711) and La Stravaganza Op. 4 (1716) Antonio Vivaldi made his mark on European music, as one of the most creative minds of the early 18th century. The manuscript containing transcriptions from these sources is preserved at the Manchester Central Library and is entitled “Collection of harpsichord solos and songs – Ann Dawson’s book”. In addition to 12 concertos by Vivaldi, it contains sonatas, suites, toccatas and arias for high voice and continuo by various authors (not all identified) for a total of 41 compositions. The collection was probably compiled during the first two decades of the 18th century. Nothing is known about the compiler or compilers, nor is anything known about the mysterious Ann Dawson, who, judging from the technical and expressive level required by the compositions, was most likely a player with more than modest capabilities. Enrico Baiano is cofounder of the Italian ensemble Cappella della Pietà dei Turchini, with whom he has played and recorded from 1986 to 2000. His solo recordings for Symphonia – the present recording was formerly available from the Italian label – have won him several international prizes such as Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’Or, and Choc de la Musique. He is professor of harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano at the Conservatorio Domenico Cimarosa in Avellino.