Federico Guglielmo & L'Arte dell'Arco - Vivaldi: La Cetra 12 Violin Concertos, Op. 9 (2016)

Tracklist
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01. Violin Concerto No. 1 in C Major, RV 181a: I. Allegro
02. Violin Concerto No. 1 in C Major, RV 181a: II. Largo
03. Violin Concerto No. 1 in C Major, RV 181a: III. Allegro
04. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Minor, RV 358: I. Adagio-Presto
05. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Minor, RV 358: II. Largo
06. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Minor, RV 358: III. Allegro
07. Violin Concerto No. 4 in E Major, RV 263a: I. Allegro non molto
08. Violin Concerto No. 4 in E Major, RV 263a: II. Largo
09. Violin Concerto No. 4 in E Major, RV 263a: III. Allegro non molto
10. Violin Concerto No. 12 in B Minor, RV 391: I. Allegro non molto
11. Violin Concerto No. 12 in B Minor, RV 391: II. Largo
12. Violin Concerto No. 12 in B Minor, RV 391: III. Allegro
13. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Minor, RV 334: I. Allegro non molto
14. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Minor, RV 334: II. Largo
15. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Minor, RV 334: III. Allegro non molto
16. Violin Concerto No. 7 in B-Flat Major, RV 359: I. Allegro
17. Violin Concerto No. 7 in B-Flat Major, RV 359: II. Largo
18. Violin Concerto No. 7 in B-Flat Major, RV 359: III. Allegro
19. Concerto for 2 Violins in B-Flat Major, RV 530: I. Allegro
20. Concerto for 2 Violins in B-Flat Major, RV 530: II. Largo e spiccato
21. Concerto for 2 Violins in B-Flat Major, RV 530: III. Allegro
22. Violin Concerto No. 10 in G Major, RV 300: I. Allegro molto
23. Violin Concerto No. 10 in G Major, RV 300: II. Largo cantabile
24. Violin Concerto No. 10 in G Major, RV 300: III. Allegro
25. Violin Concerto No. 8 in D Minor, RV 238: I. Allegro
26. Violin Concerto No. 8 in D Minor, RV 238: II. Largo
27. Violin Concerto No. 8 in D Minor, RV 238: III. Allegro
28. Violin Concerto No. 2 in A Major, RV 345: I. Allegro
29. Violin Concerto No. 2 in A Major, RV 345: II. Largo
30. Violin Concerto No. 2 in A Major, RV 345: III. Allegro
31. Violin Concerto No. 11 in C Minor, RV 198a: I. Allegro
32. Violin Concerto No. 11 in C Minor, RV 198a: II. Adagio
33. Violin Concerto No. 11 in C Minor, RV 198a: III. Allegro
34. Violin Concerto No. 6 in A Major, RV 348: I. Allegro
35. Violin Concerto No. 6 in A Major, RV 348: II. Largo
36. Violin Concerto No. 6 in A Major, RV 348: III. Allegro non molto

Federico Guglielmo and his superb ensemble L’Arte dell’Arco return with more Vivaldi delights, this time treating us to La cetra, a collection of 12 concertos. Most are for violin solo but one includes a second solo violin. Additionally, there is the fascinating inclusion of two concertos ‘con violin scordato’ – literally, a violin wrongly tuned; not an uncommon practice at the time. The collection, dedicated to Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, is called ‘la cetra’ after a cittern, or lyre. Not only does this indicate something of the sparkling string playing in the solo parts but it was also associated with the Hapsburg coat of arms, a nod to the dedicatee of the collection.

Although not as well known as some of Vivaldi’s other collections, such as La stravaganza or Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione, La cetra still has much to offer the listener. Vivaldi’s writing is as strong as in his other sets, as he moves into his late style. Not as adventurous as Op.8, he is nevertheless eclectic; some of the fast movements seem to be influenced by vocal lines, as the return to the tonic after a brief modulation occurs abruptly, similar to a da capo aria. The slow movements contain some vibrant cantabile moments. The collection as a whole foreshadows the Classical period; the pizzicato section of the Concerto No.10 would also be utilised by Haydn in his symphonies.

L’Arte dell’Arco is distinguished by its small size, with just one or two players per part. This allows for the transparency Vivaldi intended; each line has its moment, while the solo violin soars confidently above. Guglielmo is an experienced performer of Vivaldi’s works; his complete collection of the Prete Rosso’s Opp.1–12 was released on Brilliant Classics in February 2016 (95200BR).