Salvatore Accardo - Antonio Vivaldi: 8 Concerti per violino (1975/2004) [SACD]

Concerti (8) per violino? With a different title, this disc could do well. Why shouldn't it? In Salvatore Accardo, it has the best Italian violinist of the past 50 years. In I Musici, it has the best Italian chamber orchestra of the past 50 years. And, of course, in Antonio Vivaldi it has the most popular Italian composer of instrumental music of all time.

What's more, Accardo and I Musici perform Vivaldi beautifully and brilliantly. Accardo is not only a virtuoso violinist, he is a lyrical violinist, and every line he plays is phrased as if it were sung. I Musici is not only a superb chamber orchestra, it is a sympathetic chamber orchestra, and every note it plays supports the soloist as if he/she were a leaf in the breeze. Together, they turn in performances of eight concerto of wonderful poise and delightful charm. And what's more, PentaTone's super audio CD has warm and honest sound that puts Accardo and I Musici in the room with the listener. Forget the title. If you're looking for a terrific single-disc collection of Vivaldi's violin concertos, this is it.