New Classical Tracks: Vivaldi crossing borders

The ensemble La Serenissima was formed in 1994 by violinist Adrian Chandler to perform a rarely heard secular vocal work by Antonio Vivaldi. Over the past 15 years, Vivaldi and his Italian contemporaries have become their specialty, and the members of the group pride themselves on bringing seldom-heard works from these composers to the concert stage. Following the success of a series of recordings celebrating Northern Italian concertos, La Serenissima recently released their eighth CD, this time establishing the French connection with Vivaldi.

The French had a voracious appetite for Italian music in the 18th century. That opened the door for Vivaldi who became a musical ambassador feeding tasty Italian music to the French, while introducing the Parisian style to the Italians. Vivaldi's so-called "Paris" Concertos earned that name primarily because they come from a Parisian manuscript. There are, however, some striking French features in these works. Guitars were rarely used in orchestral music in Italy, but in France, they were more prominent, which is why a guitar replaces the traditional theorbo in Vivaldi's "Paris" Concerto No. 5. La Serenissima's crisp articulation accentuates the bouncy, rhythmic opening in the first movement--another example of the French influence in this concerto.

Many of Vivaldi's early works for flute are written in a chamber concerto form. That means the flute is joined by other instruments, most often the violin and bassoon. The Concerto for Flute, Violin, Bassoon in F (RV 100) is one of these delightful works. The transparent textures in the first movement are light and joyful in the hands of La Serenissima.

There are a few French-flavored moments in Vivaldi's Concerto for Flute, strings, bassoon and continuo in G, (RV 438), including the slow movement with its dotted rhythm, where a long note follows a short one. Flutist Katy Bircher's sweet tone brings out the warm, lyrical melody while bassoonist Peter Whelan provides an elegant supporting bass line. "La Serenissima" means "the most serene"--a term used to describe Venice, which is also quite applicable to this reverent slow movement.

Vivaldi wrote hundreds of concertos, a few of which were left incomplete. Two of those concerto fragments are revived on this recording. These works are well worth the special attention they're given by La Serenissima on this disc.

The Parisians loved Vivaldi because his music was exotic. Listening tp "The French Connection," you'll love hearing these delightful, innovative pieces, which show La Serenissima playing in to form, and which bring out the best in each soloist.

Vivaldi -- The French Connection -- La Serenissima (Avie 2178)

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