Catalogue

Summary:

“Chandler’s tempos are invariably ‘just so’ – expertly executed, spaciously recorded, the disc consolidates and celebrates the ensemble’s Vivaldian roots as its 25th anniversary year beckons. Quarter of a century or no, La Serenissima’s youthful mojo shines brightly!” – BBC Music magazine (Recording of the month)

“a feast of pleasures” – Gramophone

“Under Chandler, the playing, vibrant yet polished to perfection, is superb” – The Sunday Times

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“My heart skipped a beat when [The Italian Job] from La Serenissima and Adrian Chandler landed on my desk, such was my enjoyment of their Gramophone Awards-shortlisted Vivaldi Four Seasons recording (AV2344). So to discover that with this all-Italian assortment of sinfonias and concertos they’ve actually topped their 2016 triumph – and apparently effortlessly – gives me no small amount of pleasure.” – Gramophone

The Vivaldi specialists are set to triumph once again with Vivaldi x2, an astonishing medley of double concertos for hunting horns, oboes, bassoon, violin and cello. Emanating from Vivaldi’s pen the double concerto – a genre of which he all but cornered the market – resulted in some of the composer’s most colourful and exuberant works. In the hands of two-time Gramophone Award-winning La Serenissima, these concertos come to virtuosic and effervescent life.

Tracklist:

ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678–1741)

Concerto for 2 horns, strings & continuo in F, RV 539
1. I. Allegro (3.09)
2. II. Larghetto (2.29)
3. III. Allegro (2.42)

Concerto for 2 oboes, strings & continuo in D minor, RV 535
4. I. Largo (1.14)
5. II. Allegro (2.38)
6. III. Largo (2.35)
7. IV. Allegro molto (3.02)

Concerto for violin, cello, strings & continuo in A, RV 546
8. I. Allegro (3.26)
9. II. Andante (3.09)
10. III. Allegro (3.15)

Concerto for oboe, bassoon, strings & continuo in G, RV 545
11. I. Allegro (4.08)
12. II. Largo (2.47)
13. III. Allegro non molto (3.47)

Concerto for 2 horns, strings & continuo in F, RV 538
14. I. Allegro (3.21)
15. II. Largo (2.40)
16. III. Allegro non molto (3.17)

Concerto for violin, cello, strings & continuo in B flat, RV 547
17. I. Allegro (3.58)
18. II. Andante (2.01)
19. III. Allegro molto (3.07)

Concerto for 2 oboes, strings & continuo in A minor, RV 536
20. I. Allegro (2.35)
21. II. Largo (2.08)
22. III. Allegro (1.55)

Concerto per S.A.S.I.S.P.G.M.D.G.S.M.B. for violin, cello, 2 oboes, 2 horns, strings & continuo in F, RV 574
23. I. Allegro (4.39)
24. II. Adagio (3.17)
25. III. Allegro (3.57)

Total time: 75.32

Adrian Chandler, violin / director
La Serenissima
Rachel Chaplin, Mark Baigent – oboes
Peter Whelan – bassoon
Anneke Scott, Jocelyn Lightfoot – horns
Vladimir Waltham, cello

Recorded 12 – 15 February 2018, Cedars Hall, Wells, Somerset, UK
Produced, engineered and edited by Simon Fox-Gal