Grazzi

Second only to J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi is perhaps the most well-known and widely enjoyed composer of the Baroque era. Here, the world-renowned Accademia Bizantina plays Vivaldi's 12 Concertos, which include his most famous work, 'The Four Seasons.' Conducted by the passionate maestro Ottavio Dantone–who also joins on harpsichord–these pieces sounds rich and dramatic.

This hourlong CD features Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert performing the following concerti on authentic instruments: (1) Concerto for Strings in G minor; (2) Concerto for Oboe in C major; (3) Concerto for Bassoon in F major; (4) Concerto for Strings in B flat major; (5) Concerto for Violin, 2 Recorders and 2 Oboes in G minor, "per l'orchestra di Dresda"; (6) Concerto for Recorder in C major; (7) Concerto for 2 Violins and 2 Violoncellos in G major.

In comparison with their contemporary, Telemann, German composers such as Fasch, Graupner, Heinichen and Stolzel enjoy a dimin ished profile among present-day concert-goers and music enthusiasts. None of them, admittedly, was anything like so prolific as the Hamburg Director Musices but they all had one thing in common - a fascination with woodwind instruments whose role in concertos and suites was imaginatively developed in their hands. Early on in life Fasch took Telemann as a model, on at least one occasion successfully passing off a piece of his own music as that of the elder composer.

A celebration of instrumental Baroque splendour! This set present an anthology of Italian Baroque composers, featuring their instrumental output. Obviously the famous composers have their fair share: Vivaldi, Albinoni, Locatelli, Corelli, but also lesser known composers are featured: Barsanti, Bassani, Veracini, Nardini, Stradella, Vitali, Mancini, Platti, Legrenze and many more, over 30 composers! Performances by leading ensembles specialized in the Historically Informed Performance Practice: L'Arte dell'Arco/Federico Guglielmo, Ensemble Cordia/Stefano Veggetti, Violini Capricciosi/Igor Ruhadze, MusicaAmphion/Pieter Jan Belder and many more. A treasure trove of solo concertos, concerti grossi, sinfonias, overtures, trio sonatas and solo sonatas from the Golden Era of the Italian Baroque, era of joy, passion and brilliance!