Vivaldi Edition

I add to the rave reviews for this 66-CD Box Set.First, the sound quality on the Op. 1-12 series is generally exceptional with the sound quality on the remaining (47) CDs being very good to excellent. Second, the performances of the Op. 1-12 series by L’Arte dell’Arco using period instruments are extraordinarily vibrant, measuring up to or exceeding other performances on the market. These Op. 1-12 performances were recorded between 2010 and 2014. Interestingly the oldest of these, the Op. 6, which was performed in 2010, seems to offer slightly less sound quality than the others in the Op. 1-12 series but is still very good.Like some other reviewers Vivaldi is among my favorite composers and I have at least several other CD performances of Op. 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10. “The Four Seasons” is in Op. 8 and Op. 8, along with Op. 3, Op. 4 and Op. 9 are arguably the best known and most frequently performed. I also find Op. 7 and 10 to be extremely enjoyable and for whatever reason underappreciated. To my ear, L’Arte dell Arco’s performance of Op. 3 in this set is the most enjoyable I’ve heard – surpassing extremely enjoyable performances of I Musici (using, I believe, modern instruments) and Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music. Rachel Podger has released SACD versions of Op. 3, 4 and 9 on Channel Classics which offer exceptional clarity and instrumental detail but to my ear the Op. 4 and Op. 9 performances are more vibrant than Op. 3 which, while enjoyable, falls short of L’Arte dell Arco’s performance.The one area where I differ from some other reviewers who rave about this set is I will not be relegating my I Musici performances of Op. 1-12 to the back of my collection. Those are, to my ear, extremely enjoyable performances which I’ll be coming back to – with these L’Arte dell’Arco performances.One (to me very) minor point to note is unlike the other versions of the Op. 1 – Op. 12 works I have, L’Arte dell’Arco does not perform each Opus work in the standard Concerto/Sonata No. 1, No. 2, etc, progression – except for Op. 10. Taking L’Estro Armonico, for example, the order on the two CDs are: Concerto No. 10 (in B-Minor RV 580), then (listing only concerto numbers) 1, 5, 7, 8, 4, 9, 2, 12, 6, 11 and 3. The Four Seasons, however, are presented in their normal position as the opening four concertos of Op. 8. At least one reviewer found this annoying. In contrast, I found this interesting – and in comparing L’Arte dell’Arco’s version of L’Estro Armonico with Rachel Podger’s SACD version, I found the organization in L’Arte dell’Arco’s presentation slightly more enjoyable – albeit that is a minor point relative to the quality of both the performance and the sound.The remaining instrumental works in this set range from extremely enjoyable [the Oboe Concertos] to enjoyable. I did not find any particularly weak links and at a cost of less than $2.00 per CD this box set is a phenomenal value.In general I do not particularly enjoy operas but Vivaldi’s are an exception – and his Arias – to my ear – are spectacular.I have six of his operas, finding Farnace the most enjoyable. This box set contains (i) Ottone in Villa and (ii) Teuzzone which I find less enjoyable – albeit I’m sure many others enjoy them very much. This box set thus provides a good opportunity for those not particularly inclined towards opera music to sample Vivaldi’s operas. I would recommend, however, trying Jordi Savall’s performance of Farnace with Le Concert Des Nations on Alia Vox AV-9822. That is a 3-CD set released in 2002 and recorded on 26 and 28 October 2001 in Madrid. It features a performance where each of the three acts is preceded by different examples from Francesco Corselli’s version of the opera presented in Madrid in 1739. The opening Aria from Corselli on the 2nd CD in particular is spectacular. Note that Naïve reissued Jordi Savall’s performance of Farnace in 2009 but without the Corselli Arias. While that Naïve Farnace CD is enjoyable, the omission of the Corselli Arias renders it, to my ear at least, far less enjoyable that the earlier Alia Vox version and I urge those who might be inclined to purchase a performance of Farnace to purchase the 2002 Alia Vox 3-CD set. I also note that in 2011 I Barocchisti with Diego Fasolis released a version of Farnace which has received rave reviews. I do not have that performance but in examining its Amazon listing it does not seem to include the Corselli Arias which I think are a great addition.To sample Vivaldi’s Arias I’d recommend two CDs for both their performances and sound quality: (i) Vivaldi Opera Arias and Sinfonias, The Brandenburg Consort-Roy Goodman, Emma Kirkby-Soprano, Hyperion-Helios CDH-55279; and (ii) Vivaldi Arias-Amor Profano, Venice Baroque Orchestra-Andrea Marcon, Simone Kermes-Soprano, Archiv Produktion 4776618. Both contain a breathtaking Aria – “Se in Campo Armato” from the opera Catone in Utica which I’d characterize as a must have. I also have Vivaldi Opera Arias: Pyrotechnics with Europa Galante-Fabio Biondi and Vivica Genaux-Mezz-Soprano which, the last time I checked on Amazon.com, had earned 14 5-Star reviews and one 3-star review out of 15 reviews. That CD is also extremely enjoyable but does not have “Se in Campo Armato.” Listeners who enjoy Vivaldi’s Arias may want to get all three.

Ok, I am a lover of Vivaldi and I have over 250 cds of his works alone. But THIS is the box I have been waiting for. All others pale pitifully beside this one, that is, if you love the modern approach to recording baroque music, ala Carmignola, Biondi, and the Naive Vivialdi Edition. I have endless recordings of the old school massive echo chamber cathedral feel recordings, and some of them are pretty good, but if you love the real clarity of those I mention above, you have to have this. Op 1-12 recorded newly and so brilliantly that they alone are more than worth the price of this box. I've loved Op 7, 11, and 12 despite the seriously flawed recordings that existed prior to this edition, and these by L'Arte dell'Arco put the others to shame! Academy of Ancient Music, who introduced me to Vivaldi many years ago and are certainly better than countless before them, now sounds so quaint and reserved beside modern approaches like the new recordings on this box. Not to mention the I Musici and I Solisti Italiani recordings, which are positively going to retire for good now that I have these, the best recordings of these pieces yet! The other retracings here of Op. 3,4,8,9 that you probably have multiple recordings of are so good as to give the very best tough competition, making even the most overplayed or less interesting pieces fresh and exciting again. But Op 1-12 is not all, only the first 19 cds.. The complete oboe follows, marking at least a tie with the Naive recordings.. The complete cello concertos are the top of the heap for sure, and although I love my older riveting Roel Dieltiens recordings, they are not complete! And please, although the Ofra Harnoy are complete, they are so boring and echo laden and slow that I can put them to bed forever and be thankful with this amazing treatment by LArte dell'Arco. This set, all the works by LArte dell'Arco, are so good that it is mind boggling, and they have recorded SO MUCH for this set SO WELL! Clearly we won't be seeing Carmignola and Biondi doing a definitive op 1-12 plus complete cello anytime soon if ever.. Even Naive cut corners by trimming a couple sonatas off of their otherwise lovely Op.1 so they could fit it on one disc.. Pitiful! Same problem with Biondi's/Europa Galante's La Stravaganza.. Why not record them all? It's infuriating to see such half measures when all I want is definitive and complete recordings.. Is that too much to ask? L'Arte dell'Arco and Federico Guglielmo certainly match those artists in talent and vigor and splendor and recording quality, and they vastly exceed them in completing the task as thoroughly as they have.. At least as completely as anyone has yet. I have a much older Brilliant Classics Vivaldi Masterworks 40 cd box, with individual jewel cases, and this set does duplicate some of those older recordings.. Specifically, discs 32,34,37,40,59,60,61,62,63,65, and 66 are all in that much older box. They are mostly the discs most worth keeping from that older box, saving things like Sardelli and Modo Antiquo, while thankfully disposing of such things as the Kings Consort, who accomplished my least favorite ever versions of echo laden muddy Vivaldi.. Also included here are the cello Sonatas by Jaap ter Linden and they are really wonderful, but I already had those as well, having bought them separately a few years ago. There is much more in here- go to the brilliant classics site and look up the box and you can download the 123 page PDF book that contains all the track listings and artists (and very good notes as well) and you can see what you may or may not already have of it.. But believe me, if this box held nothing more than the 26 discs comprising LArte dell'Arco new recordings of the Op.1-12, the complete cello and the oboe concertos, it would be a steal at the price. I cannot overstate how good these are, and how well they stack up to the other monsters of baroque of today- many of these may be the best yet! Even if you already have all the Europa Galante and Carmignola and La Serenissima and Naive and so on like I do, if you love those: YOU HAVE TO GET THIS BOX! I can't overstate how amazing it is to have genuinely great and complete recordings and performances of all of these works finally, after piecing together a full Op. 1-12 in a patchwork way with great trouble and variability in quality, this is a dream come true, and could have saved me hundreds of dollars and hours of searching and listening time wasted on substandard releases in the past.. I know it sounds hyperbolic, my raving over this box, but it is the truth. You won't regret this purchase. This is quality and quantity and it seriously has no equal for the Vivaldi fanatic. Get it!

Wonderful product. Accurate description. Perfect packing and quick delivery. Seller recommended.

My favorite Classical Music Master is The Red Priest. I had 2 years of violin lessons in public school in the 70's. I have played\monkey'd about by ear ever since. Therefore I'm in no position to critique a tune carried in a basket, much less these recordings. I'm just so grateful to have all these works in one place. My treasured Christmas gift from my husband. I love the warm effervescent joy he brought to broque, just on the cusp of the renaissance.

Wonderful edition! Really enjoyed listening to most pieces with the exception of the Cello Concertos. These used to be my favourite Vivaldi concertos but in this edition the harpsicord is way too overpowering for me to enjoy the pieces. They should be renamed Harpsicord Concertos instead of Cello Concertos. On many pieces the cello can't be heard. Could be just my personal taste but I was very disappointed as I was really looking forward to something very special based on the rest of the Vivaldi Edition. Thus the 4 star. Still one of the best investments I ever made.

Aunque a algunos les irrita sobremanera la uniformidad en el total de la obra del "padre rojo", para otros nunca habrá en el mundo demasiado de la misma, siempre agradable e inspiradora. Estoy encantado.

Brilliant Classics produce a winner again. A collection of almost every Vivaldi work, and the Bach settings played on the organ. I already have the Bach settings played on the harpsichord so, strictly speaking, they are for keyboard.Not so keen on many of the vocal works, I, personally, think Vivaldi composed better for small chamber ensembles than for the voice.A collection well worth buying if you like Baroque music.Only one possible weakness, the hinge on the box. I don't know how long it will last before it breaks. It feels a bit flimsy.

Só peca por não ser a obra COMPLETA. Talvez no futuro.

Per cominciare un plauso ad Amazon, mai successo una consegna il giorno dopo l'acquisto ma sopratutto di domenica, incredibile.Come ho scritto nel titolo questa edizione è diversa rispetto all'originale di oltre 10 anni fa, per cominciare la parte strumentale affidata ad esecutori italiani eccezionali, sopratutto a Sardelli per alcune composizione vocali, ma anche l'Arte dell'Arco, eccezionali; parte delle incisioni sacre sono diverse rispetto all'edizione originale, concordo con alcuni utenti che mi hanno preceduto, purtroppo la musica sacra affidata agli olandesi, Leusink, è abbastanza scarsa, già non entusiasmava in Bach, qui è peggio, sopratutto i solisti, pessimo Buwalda, poi per carità si ascoltano però che tristezza se confrontate, ad es. con la Juditha diretta da Sardelli.Ovviamente non è una Complete Edition, è impossibile per Vivaldi visto l'enorme produzione operistica di cui molti titoli ancora non sono stati incisi, ma è una eccellente edizione completa per la parte strumentale e conoscendo l'edizione originale complessivamente scarsa questa mi sento di consigliarla.

Très bel article et envoi tout à fait conforme aux attentes. Brillant classic est un article de qualité. Vivaldi est là...grâce à l'arrivée de mon colis.