Collegium Musicum 90, Simon Standage - Vivaldi: String Concertos, Vol. 3 (2003) Hi-Res

This is a very good recording of a selection of Vivaldi's "concerti a quattro" - concertos for string orchestra without a solo instrument. I wasn't keen on Volume 1 of this series but tried this because it had very good reviews, which turned out to be justified.

Here we have a selection from the vast Vivaldi archive in Turin, selected, as Standage tells us, "on musical and pragmatic grounds with the aim of presenting an attractive cross-section." He has succeeded very well in this aim. The concerti are distinctive, varied and very enjoyable both individually and as a complete programme, and they bring out interesting and engaging performances from Collegium Musicum 90. Here they seem engaged and really bring a sense of meaning and individuality to the works which seemed curiously lacking in Volume 1. This is helped by the addition of wind instruments in some concerti which, Standing assures us, "is quite in keeping with the normal practice of the time," and which adds an excellent dose of colour and variety.

This disc is well up to Standage's and Collegium Muiscum 90's usual excellent standard. The recorded sound is very good, the notes interesting and the presentation very attractive. Very warmly recommended.