Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Iona Brown - Vivaldi: 12 Concertos, Op. 9 (1996)

The 12 violin concertos which make up La cetra were published in Amsterdam in 1727 as Vivaldi's Op. 9. They were not his last published ones, although La cetra ("The lyre") was the composer's last great set, each and every one of its contents representative of his mature instrumental style. The soloist in this reissued recording is Iona Brown, who is joined by Malcolm Latchem in the one and only concerto for two violins (No. 9). Brown shapes her phrases elegantly and is lucid in her articulation; and she favours moderate tempos which, though sometimes erring on the slow side, are usually effective. This is lyrical, warm-toned solo playing for the most part and it is sympathetically supported by the strings of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. The slow movement of the Third Concerto in G minor affords a good example of this style of playing at its most appealing.