Vivaldi: Concerto for strings, RV 143

The acclaimed Polish period band Arte dei Suonatori perform eight of Vivaldi’s concertos a Quattro. Their version of Handel’s 12 Concerto grossi Op. 6 was awarded ‘Orchestral Choice of the Month’ in BBC Music Magazine, alongside further critical acclaim from the international music press.

As well as being a major composer in the formation of the solo concerto, he also was the leading exponent of the older concerto a quattro – music in four parts, with several players to a part. His works in this genre are notable not only for their beauty, but also for their experimental character and for providing the most important examples of fugal writing in Vivaldi’s instrumental music.

This recording includes eight of the concertos, as well as the Sinfonia from the serenata La Senna festeggiante (The Rejoicing Seine) composed in honour of the young French king Louis XV, and the Sonata a 4 in E flat major ‘Al Santo Sepolcro’.

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) was a musical genius and shone at his brightest when writing for strings. His ever-popular Four Seasons aside, there are countless other extraordinary concertos that Vivaldi wrote for strings.

This recording, a re-release dating from 1992, presents no fewer than nine concertos: two featuring solo cello; one for solo violin and cello; one for two violins and two cellos; one for four violins; and finally four for string orchestra without soloists.

Extraordinary repertoire demands extraordinary performances and those from our orchestra and guests are second to none.

This wonderful specially priced 4-CD boxed set gathers together recordings and highlights from critically-acclaimed and best-selling Vivaldi recordings by the award winning combination of Concerto Italiano and its director Rinaldo Alessandrini. Featured soloists include Sara Mingardo, Gemma Bertagnoli, Roberta Invernizzi, and Sonia Prina.

This 6-CD set features many of the most well-loved 18th century concertos in the repertoire, including the group that make up Vivaldi’s ever popular The Four Seasons as well as J.S. Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos. The collection also includes, Bach’s ‘Alla Manera Italiana’ and other concertos in the Italian style by Bach, Marcello, and Vivaldi. The works are performed by one of the leading period instrument groups of today, Concerto Italiano and its renowned musical director Rinaldo Alessandrini.