One Piece 428

This well-balanced programme of Vivaldi concertos should have a wide appeal. Five of the seven works have descriptive or at least evocative subtitles; those without a picturesque mode of appellation are the concertos for one and two mandolins, slight pieces but which nevertheless unfailingly beguile the senses. Nigel Woodhouse and Sue Mossop bring as much expression to the music as their instruments allow, only occasionally failing to move in step where required in the Double Concerto. Tuttis in the finale, too, are a little ragged, but this playing has character and vitality to enliven the performances.

“[These suites] have rarely been recorded or promoted by harpsichordists during the most recent revival of interest in ‘early music.’” I realize that Richard Egarr is entitled to his own opinions—his liner notes on an earlier release, for example, likened the humor in Purcell’s harpsichord music to that of the wonderful old 1950s BBC comedy The Goon Show —but he’s not entitled to his own facts. Christopher Brodersen pointed out in a 2011 review of these works featuring Laurence Cummings ( Fanfare 34:5) that ArkivMusic listed nine complete sets played on the harpsichord, with several others on the piano. I find some of the suites have considerably more recordings than that, in 2014: 26 for the Suite in A Major, 28 for the Suite in D Minor, 25 for the Suite in E Minor, 47 for the Suite in E Major. If such numbers reflect rare recordings, I have to wonder what Egarr would consider a moderate number, let alone a frequent one.