Rachel Podger & Arte Dei Suonatori – Antonio Vivaldi: La Stravaganza – 12 Violin Concertos (2003) SACD ISO

These performances of Vivaldi’s La Stravaganza – a collection of 12 violin concertos – are truly extravagant. They’re not designed to be listened to in one sitting and shouldn’t be: it’s not the sameness of the orchestration which might get in the way, it’s the intensity with which Vivaldi composed them and the manner in which the remarkable Rachel Podger plays them. Fans of Andrew Manze will love Podger for similar reasons.

While Vivaldi was imitated and paraphrased for several decades in the 18th Century, his style is actually quite inimitable. His admirers could add to but not originate the formula. This is why his singular voice speaks to us now with such genuine directness and individuality. The concertos of La Stravanganza, remarkable for their range of coloration, constitute Vivaldi’s evolving style of extravagance and ecstasy. Immersing herself in the 12 Concertos of La Stravanganza was an intense and exhilarating experience for violinist Rachel Podger, and one which has left her full of wonder at Vivaldi’s seemingly endless capacity for invention.
— Gramophone’s Best Baroque Recording of 2003 CCS SA 19503 (Channel Classics)

Tracklist:

Disc 1
Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Op. 4
1. Allegro
2. Largo e cantabile
3. Allegro
Concerto No. 2 In E Minor Op. 4
4. Allegro
5. Largo
6. Allegro
Concerto No. 3 In G Major Op. 4
7. Allegro
8. Largo
9. Allegro assai
Concerto No. 4 In A Minor Op. 4
10. Allegro
11. Grave e sempre piano
12. Allegro
Concerto No. 5 In A Major Op. 4
13. Allegro
14. II. Largo
15. Allegro
Concerto No. 6 In G Minor Op. 4
16. Allegro
17. Largo
18. Allegro

Disc 2
Concerto Nr. 7 C-dur op. 4
1. Largo
2. Allegro
3. Largo
4. Allegro
Concerto Nr. 8 d-moll op. 4
5. Allegro
6. Adagio – Presto – Adagio
7. Allegro
Concerto Nr. 9 F-dur op. 4
8. Allegro
9. Largo
10. Allegro
Concerto Nr. 10 c-moll op. 4
11. Spirituoso
12. Adagio
13. Allegro
Concerto Nr. 11 D-dur op. 4
14. Allegro
15. Largo
16. Allegro assai
Concerto Nr. 12 G-dur op. 4
17. Spirituoso e non presto
18. Largo
19. Allegro