Organo

The many successes of La Risonanza, the ensemble led from the keyboard by Fabio Bonizzoni (notably with its survey of Handel secular cantatas), can often lead to Bonizzoni’s great talent as a harpsichordist and organist being overlooked. Here, in the delightful Op 9 concertos by Giuseppe Sammartini, we are able to enjoy Bonizzoni’s skill in the latter role, assisted by a small – but decidedly elegant – ensemble of all-stars in which feature the violin playing of David Plantier and Olivia Centurioni.

Vivaldi wrote almost no concertos for keyboard instruments, as Alessandro Borin tells us in his fine notes to this recording. There are just the six here, all with violin, and one more for harpsichord. Two of these also add oboe and optional chalumeau (RV 779) or cello (RV 554). The first thing to note about this recording is that it has some of Vivaldi’s most spirited and inventive music, ebulliently played.