Rachel Podger, Brecon Baroque – Antonio Vivaldi: L’Estro Armonico (2015) SACD ISO

Vivaldi augmented his reputation as The Red Priest with L’Estro Armonico , Op. 3, a collection of twelve concertos for one, two and four violins. The title of the collection encapsulates the qualities that so entranced Vivaldi’s contemporaries. L Estro Armonico , which might be translated as musical rapture , reflects the vitality and freshness of Vivaldi’s invention: its rhythmic energy, melodic and harmonic intensity,textural sensuousness,performative brilliance and dramatic flair.

These pieces are truly exhilarating to play and perform and their fresh impact never fails to hit some target or other, judging by the reaction of a live audience. Not often do you witness four violins trying to outdo each other! During Brecon Baroque’s concerts preceding the recording,the rapier-like turns in musical conversations between the four parts always seemed to lead to added expectation and excitement all the more effective because of the contrasted moments of deep melancholy which Vivaldi somehow manages to express irrespective of mode (Rachel Podger)

The dynamic ensemble Brecon Baroque was founded in 2007 by violinist and director Rachel Podger as resident ensemble at her annual Brecon Baroque Festival. The international line-up consists of some of some of the leading lights in the period instrument world. Brecon Baroque specialises in the music of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries, mostly as a one-to-a-part ensemble based on the Cafe Zimmerman ensemble which Bach himself directed. They also appear as a small baroque orchestra for Vivaldi,Telemann, Purcell and Handel.

The Best Albums of 2015 – Gramophone Magazine

Such inspirational originality elicits inspirational playing from Brecon Baroque. More impressive than simply technique – never in doubt – is their detailed coloring and shaping…this recording of them outclasses any Ive experienced. – BBC Music Magazine

Emotional moods keep sliding around, fizz and crackle here, sombre melancholy there…Its true that Podger doesn’t sing [with her voice]; but who misses that on this scintillating album? -The Times UK
Under Podgers active intelligence and inspiring vision, rhythmic energy is always the center of these performances…. This is intense, ultramelodic chamber music with the brisk tempos to please speed-metal fans, and enough complexity of texture and joyous effervescence to tempt young ears and quicken the beat of even the most jaded classical heart. -Stereophile

Tracklist:

Disc 1
1. Concerto No.1 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv549
2. Concerto No.1 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv549
3. Concerto No.1 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv549
4. Concerto No.2 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv578
5. Concerto No.2 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv578
6. Concerto No.2 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv578
7. Concerto No.3 For Violins And Strings, Rv310
8. Concerto No.3 For Violins And Strings, Rv310
9. Concerto No.3 For Violins And Strings, Rv310
10. Concerto No. 4 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv 550
11. Concerto No. 4 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv 550
12. Concerto No. 4 For Four Violins And Strings, Rv 550
13. Concerto No. 5 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 519
14. Concerto No. 5 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 519
15. Concerto No. 5 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 519
16. Concerto No. 6 For Violin And Strings, Rv 356
17. Concerto No. 6 For Violin And Strings, Rv 356
18. Concerto No. 6 For Violin And Strings, Rv 356

Disc 2
1. Concerto No. 7 For Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 567
2. Concerto No. 7 For Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 567
3. Concerto No. 7 For Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 567
4. Concerto No. 8 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 522
5. Concerto No. 8 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 522
6. Concerto No. 8 For Two Violins And Strings, Rv 522
7. Concerto No. 9 For Violin And Strings, Rv 230
8. Concerto No. 9 For Violin And Strings, Rv 230
9. Concerto No. 9 For Violin And Strings, Rv 230
10. Concerto No. 10 Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 580
11. Concerto No. 10 Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 580
12. Concerto No. 10 Four Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 580
13. Concerto No. 11 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 565
14. Concerto No. 11 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 565
15. Concerto No. 11 For Two Violins, Cello And Strings, Rv 565
16. Concerto No. 12 For Violin And Strings, Rv 265
17. Concerto No. 12 For Violin And Strings, Rv 265
18. Concerto No. 12 For Violin And Strings, Rv 265

Personnel:
Brecon Baroque:
Rachel Podger, violin/director
Bojan Čičić, violin (solo nos. 2 & 11)
Johannes Pramsohler, violin (solo nos. 5 & 8)
Sabine Stoffer, violin
Janes Rogers, viola
Ricardo Cuende Isuskiza, viola
Alison McGillivray, violoncello
Jan Spencer, violone
Daniele Caminiti, theorbo
David Miller, theorbo/guitar
Marcin Świątkiewicz, harpsichord/organ

SACD ISO

mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part1.rar
mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part2.rar
mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part3.rar
mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part4.rar
mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part5.rar
mqs.link_RachelPdgerBrecnBarqueAntniVivaldiLEstrArmnic2015SACDIS.part6.rar