Review by: David Hurwitz

• Fabio Biondi Vivaldi Winter
• Vivaldi Four Seasons Biondi
• Vivaldi Biondi
• Fabio Biondi Vivaldi

Fabio Biondi Vivaldi Winter

This delicious collection contains two of Vivaldi’s most remarkable creations, the Concertos RV 555 and RV 558, scored for a vast ensemble including solo mandolins, recorders, oboes, chalumeaux, cellos, harpsichords, theorbos, viole all’inglese, and something called “violini in tromba marina”, which no one to this day is entirely sure about. And my, how Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante do play! At first the tempos sound excessively fleet, but when you hear how well these players handle their solo episodes, and sense their joy in the excesses of Baroque instrumental writing and the opportunities for virtuosity that it offers, then it’s practically impossible not to be swept away in the sheer excitement of it all. That said, if you love this music you also should hear Leonard Bernstein’s wonderful performance (on Sony) of Alfredo Casella’s edition of RV 558, rescored for an equally extravagant ensemble of modern instruments.

The heart of this collection lies in the three concertos featuring solo mandolin (RV 532 actually requires two), which number among Vivaldi’s most piquantly appealing inspirations. RV 576, scored for solo violin, two recorders, three oboes, and solo bassoon, also represents the composer at his most inventive and expansive, and the quality of the wind playing here is second to none in the period instrument world. In short, you will find in these performances more than sufficient evidence to refute the notion that Vivaldi wrote the same concerto 600 times. Or at all events, he only did it 593 times: these seven works remain outstanding for their character and individuality, and you won’t find them better played or more immaculately recorded anywhere.

Vivaldi Four Seasons Biondi

Some 20+ years after his groundbreaking releases on Virgin, Fabio Biondi now feels like almost an old hand at Vivaldi. However, the energy and innovation—as well as the scholarly grounding of his performances—haven’t diminished. This is the first entry of Biondi and Europa Galante to the ongoing Vivaldi Edition on the Naive label.

• Of the new school of Italian authentic-instrument violinists who have moved the spotlight south from the Netherlands in High Baroque repertory, none has had more success than Fabio Biondi. There are more purely daring interpretations of Vivaldi, and more subtle ones.
• Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Fabio Biondi (Conductor), Europa Galante (Orchestra).

Recording Details:

ANTONIO VIVALDI - Concertos for mandolin, and for multiple instruments RV 555, 558, 532, 576, 564, 319, 425
Macbook pro download folder not visible. Convertxtodvd free download for mac.

• Biondi, Fabio (conductor)

• Virgin Classics - 45527 2
• CD

Fabio Biondi (born 15 March 1961) is an Italianviolinist and conductor.^[1] Todoist ipad. He is a specialist in Baroque and early music.

Biography[edit]

Born in Palermo, Sicily, Biondi had a late start, having never even held a violin till age 11, but by the following year he had advanced so quickly that he played a concerto with the RAI Symphony Orchestra.^[2] When he was 16, he performed Johann Sebastian Bach's violin concertos at the Musikverein in Vienna. Since then, he has performed with a number of baroque ensembles including La Capella Reial, Musica Antiqua Wien, Seminario Musicale, La Chapelle Royale and Les Musiciens du Louvre. In 1990 Biondi founded Europa Galante, an Italian ensemble specializing in baroque music, that he directs.^[1]

Biondi's recordings include Antonio Vivaldi's Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione including The Four Seasons and the opera Bajazet, Arcangelo Corelli's concerti grossi, works of Alessandro Scarlatti and George Frideric Handel, from the 18th-century Italian violin repertoire (Antonio Vivaldi, Francesco Maria Veracini, Pietro Locatelli, Giuseppe Tartini), as well as sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. Biondi also performs in duos with keyboard (piano, harpsichord or fortepiano).

In 2005 Biondi became artistic director for baroque music of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. He plays a 1766 Carlo Ferdinando Gagliano violin lent him by the Salvatore Cicero Foundation in Palermo, an Andrea Guarneri (Cremona, 1686) violin and also a Desiderio Quercetani violin for recording and play.

He is married to Ana de Labra. They have one child. He also has three children with a former wife.^[2]

Discography (in selection)[edit]

Vivaldi Biondi

As soloist

• 2008: Trio Sonatas For Violin, Flute & B.C. • Trio Sonatas For Oboe, Recorder & B.C. (Complete) (Brilliant Classics), with Ensemble Tripla Concordia
• 2010: Leclair: Premier Livre De Sonates A Violon Seul Avec La Basse Continue, 1723 (Arcana Records)

With Europa Galante

• 2004: Vivaldi: Mottetti, con Patrizia Ciofi e l'Europa Galante (Virgin Classics)
• 2009: Boccherini: Trio - Quartet - Quintet - Sextet For Strings (Virgin Classics)
• 2009: Pyrotechnics: Vivaldi Arias (Virgin Classics), feat. Vivica Genaux
• 2010: Vivaldi: Ercole Sul Termodonte (Virgin Classics), directed by Fabio Biondi
• 2015: Vivaldi: I Concerti Dell' Addio (The Farewell Concertos) (Glossa Music), directed by Fabio Biondi^[3]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Fabio Biondi (Conductor, Violin)'. Biography. Bach-Cantatas.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
2. ^ ^abCosic, Miriam (17-18 October 1999). 'Baroque con brio', The Weekend Australian, Review, p. 19
3. ^'Fabio Biondi'. Discography. Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

Fabio Biondi Vivaldi

External links[edit]

• Biography of Fabio Biondi on the Europa Galante site
• Vivaldi The Four Seasons Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi violin and conducting at YouTube