Vivaldi: Concerto for strings No. 10, RV 121

Mexico after the Spanish arrived saw a great deal of European art and culture being imported, including music from the great centres such as Venice. Not having harpsichords to hand, it became usual to use local instruments, vihuela and guitarron, for continuo. This policy is used here, and the sharp clear sound of the strings with the rhythmic base gives these works a new impetus and vitality. The Vivaldi pieces are fairly well known but the fine concertos by Facco were only discovered relatively recently.

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.

Vivaldi’s creative genius was not on a level with that of Bach, Mozart or Strauss, but it was considerable all the same. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians calls him "the most original and influential Italian composer of his generation" and continues: "He laid the foundations for the mature Baroque concerto. His contributions to musical style, violin technique and the practice of orchestration were substantial, and he was a pioneer of orchestral program music."

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.