Vivaldi 55 Concertos Box - EC/Pinnock

[Barbirollians]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007CW2FIE/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music

I have been working my way through this wonderful bargain box of the Vivaldi recordings with Pinnock .

Particular highlights remain the wind playing of the late David Reichenberg and Lisa Besnosiuk . The classic Standage/Pinnock Four Seasons has never paled , the lovely varied Alla Rustica and L'Amoroso mixed concerto collections that i wore out on cassettes many moons ago .

The real hit for me though is La Stravaganza set itself . I missed this first time round and had been happy with the more recent Podger set but this has such life , excitement and fizz that it sweeps to the top of the tree .

£17 from marketplace sellers .

It raises for me an interesting issue about baroque music in HIPP performances . Would those much more knowledgeable than me say things have moved on for the better over the last 20-30 years since these recordings were made ? Maybe it is because they were the recordings I bought and which introduced me to what was then known as "authentic " performances and because I have obtained such pleasure from them that I hear them with a rose toned ear trumpet !

[gurnemanz]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&s=music

I have been working my way through this wonderful bargain box of the Vivaldi recordings with Pinnock .

Particular highlights remain the wind playing of the late David Reichenberg and Lisa Besnosiuk . The classic Standage/Pinnock Four Seasons has never paled , the lovely varied Alla Rustica and L'Amoroso mixed concerto collections that i wore out on cassettes many moons ago .

The real hit for me though is La Stravaganza set itself . I missed this first time round and had been happy with the more recent Podger set but this has such life , excitement and fizz that it sweeps to the top of the tree .

I love that Alla Rustica disc. It always cheers me up. Here's another very good La Stravaganza

[MickyD]

Barbirollians - speaking as an HIP fan, I suppose that performances have moved on and many are much more polished than earlier efforts. It is always interesting to hear what younger groups have to bring to the repertoire. Yet, like you, my affections will always remain loyal to pioneering recordings from groups like The English Concert and The Academy of Ancient Music - maybe for my part it is nothing more than nostalgia, but I still find these absolutely thrilling.

[Barbirollians]

Yes maybe the polish makes them less exciting. As gurnemanz says and as I pointed out in the OP Pdoger's La stravaganza is very fine but to my ears less exciting than the Standage/Pinnock.

[MickyD]

The odd thing was that the English Concert and AAM often shared a pool of players, but each orchestra had their own discernible style and sound. I personally favoured the AAM, very often because I preferred the Decca sound and the brilliant work of their producer Peter Wadland.

[Barbirollians]

I was always with the EC and Pinnock . I tended to prefer his interpretations to those of Hogwood and the AAM . Some might say i suppose that Pinnock was less likely to scare the horses.

The EC still play marvellously for him when they get the chance . Consider the recent Alison Balsam recital on EMI .

[MickyD]

I know what you mean....compare the two recordings of the six CPE Bach string symphonies - the AAM give rather earthier performances and the EC rather more refined, elegant ones. I always ended up buying both!

[Barbirollians]

I haven't played those for years ! Will remedy that now as I am working at home today .The Pinnock version however is the only one I have .

[MickyD]

It is wonderful music...and there is no doubt that the EC's performances are very fine. I am biased towards the Hogwood because it was the first one to come out and this bizarre style made such an impression on me, especially when heard on period instruments.

As for comparisons, it is also interesting to hear both the EC and the AAM's takes on the eight Boyce symphonies - more favourites of mine, and here I find it very hard to declare a winner!

[Barbirollians]

I don't have those - oh dear another album for the wishlist .

One I only got hold of recently was Pinnock's Corelli Concerto grosso set - absolutely marvellous playing .

[MickyD]

Oh, you must get the Boyce symphonies....they are joyous works and bounce along delightfully in both sets!

And yes, the EC Corelli set has long been held in high esteem. Oddly enough, one of my favourite EC recordings is one of their very first - CPE Bach and JC Bach harpsichord concertos recorded for CRD in the early 70s. It still astonishes me to hear how fresh and exciting they still sound.

[richardfinegold]

I have both the Podger and the Pinnock recordings. I prefer Podger, which doesn't make Pinnock a slouch. Podger's recording positively leaps from the speakers
and it's hard not to toe tap. I liked it so much that I bought the SACD version after owning the CD version, but I shouldn't have bothered, as the CD is plenty vivid.

[Barbirollians]

The Standage/Pinnock in La Stravaganza has much more fizz than Podger to my ears . She is very good but there is for me a sense of it all being very comfortable to play in accordance with HIPP nowadays

[Barbirollians]

The Pinnock Boyce Symphonies - are indeed a joy - a belated thanks to Micky D

[BBMmk2]

Oh this be very good!!!!