Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland

Track Listings
1. Sinfonia in G major: Allegro molto    
2. Sinfonia in G major: Andante    
3. Sinfonia in G major: Allegro    
4. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Presto    
5. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Largo    
6. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Presto    
7. Concerto in D minor: Allegro    
8. Concerto in D minor: Largo    
9. Concerto in D minor: Allegro    
10. Concerto in A major: Allegro    
11. Concerto in A major: Larghetto    
12. Concerto in A major: Allegro    
13. Violin Concerto in C major: Allegro    
14. Violin Concerto in C major: Largo e cantabile    
15. Violin Concerto in C major: Allegro    
16. Concerto in C major: Allegro molto    
17. Concerto in C major: Andante    
18. Concerto in C major: Allegro    

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here, at a bargain price, is a real treat: the lively, elegant, musically alert Andrew Manze leading and playing a handful of wonderful Vivaldi concerti preceded by a little Sinfonia. The concerti, all backed up by the usual strings, are for various combinations of instruments. Two are straight violin concerti (playful and bright). One is for violin and three echo violins that repeat what the lead violin has done, but at a distance from the other performers (very entertaining). The most beautiful is for lute and viola d'amore (a gentle, dark texture). The CD ends with one scored for recorders, chalumeaux, mandolins, therobos, cello, and special violins, which is a riot of sound, with a particularly jaunty first movement. The disc's title refers to a visit to Venice in 1740 by Frederick Christian, the Prince Elector of Saxony, during which Vivaldi's music was performed. He was a lucky prince, and we're lucky to have this CD. As usual, Manze and the Academy of Ancient Music are superb. --Robert Levine

Vivaldi: Concert for the Prince of Poland, Music, Antonio Vivaldi, Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze, Baroque Sinfonia for Orchestra, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, Concerto for Two String Instruments, Orchestral, Violin Concerto
Concert for the Prince of Poland
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Music for a historical event
  • What elegance and grace is contained here
  • Diversity is your best bet
  • Just sublime
  • Great Music as expected from Andrew Manze
 Concert for the Prince of Poland
Vivaldi , Manze , and Academy of Ancient Music
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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$6.99 and Under$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
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  5. Vivaldi - Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione / Europa Galante, Biondi

ASIN: B00006644L
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

  1. Sinfonia in G major: Allegro molto
  2. Sinfonia in G major: Andante
  3. Sinfonia in G major: Allegro
  4. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Presto
  5. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Largo
  6. Violin Concerto in E-flat major: Presto
  7. Concerto in D minor: Allegro
  8. Concerto in D minor: Largo
  9. Concerto in D minor: Allegro
  10. Concerto in A major: Allegro
  11. Concerto in A major: Larghetto
  12. Concerto in A major: Allegro
  13. Violin Concerto in C major: Allegro
  14. Violin Concerto in C major: Largo e cantabile
  15. Violin Concerto in C major: Allegro
  16. Concerto in C major: Allegro molto
  17. Concerto in C major: Andante
  18. Concerto in C major: Allegro

Amazon.com

Here, at a bargain price, is a real treat: the lively, elegant, musically alert Andrew Manze leading and playing a handful of wonderful Vivaldi concerti preceded by a little Sinfonia. The concerti, all backed up by the usual strings, are for various combinations of instruments. Two are straight violin concerti (playful and bright). One is for violin and three echo violins that repeat what the lead violin has done, but at a distance from the other performers (very entertaining). The most beautiful is for lute and viola d'amore (a gentle, dark texture). The CD ends with one scored for recorders, chalumeaux, mandolins, therobos, cello, and special violins, which is a riot of sound, with a particularly jaunty first movement. The disc's title refers to a visit to Venice in 1740 by Frederick Christian, the Prince Elector of Saxony, during which Vivaldi's music was performed. He was a lucky prince, and we're lucky to have this CD. As usual, Manze and the Academy of Ancient Music are superb. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Music for a historical event.......2007-01-13

Most Vivaldi recordings contain programs selected either by the medium (all bassoon concertos, for example) or by the opus number (all the concertos from Opus 8). This one is utterly unique, and that fact--in addition to the splendid performances--makes it especially interesting. The CD contains music performed (and at least partly written for) a specific event in Venice--a visit by Prince Frederick Christian, the son of the King of Poland. He was known to be very interested in music, so 3 special concerts were offered during his visit. One of these, on March 21, 1740, was organized and directed by Vivaldi.
The evening's program included a vocal piece--a serenata called "The Chorus of Muses" by the great playwright Carlo Goldoni--with its sections introduced by four concertos composed by Vivaldi. (The music of the serenata is lost, and even the name of the composer is unknown.)
Vivaldi's contribution to the evening was commissioned by the Pietà, the orphanage whose all-female orchestra he had made famous earlier in his career. These concertos may very well be his last works, because soon after the festive performance, he moved to Vienna, where he died in poverty the following year.
So listening to this recording not only lets us hear fine performances of some late Vivaldi works (still amazing for the variety of scoring and compositional approaches after having composed so much music over so many years), but it also transports us, in a kind of musical time machine, to a period and lifestyle that has certainly disappeared in the last 250 years. We know from his diary that the Prince particularly enjoyed one "echo" concerto (in which several instruments were seated at a distance for special echo effects).
It is an unusual and delightful way to encounter Vivaldi.

5 out of 5 stars What elegance and grace is contained here.......2005-10-12

The Academy of Ancient Music has done a wonderful job with this CD of the 4 Concertos written by Vivaldi in honor of the vist of Prince Frederick Christian, Prince of Poland, to Venice. The works were spread out over several evenings so that they could be enjoyed by the illustrious guests. The Academy of Ancient Music does a superb job with this collection of music that required use of instruments rarely used today.

Sinfonia in G major dazzles us with joyful pomp. The third movement echoes the Autumn section of the Four Seasons by capturing the sound of the harvest folk dance.

Violin Concerto in E-flat major is incredibly well constructed, almost mathematical in composition, with passages building one upon the other. The first movement builds gradually but the third movement slips and slides like children in a playground.

Concerto in D minor has courtly beinnings. Like much of Vivaldi, the violins sometimes are allowed to take the foreground with a somewhat rustic power, yet they are usually balanced by the pure elegance of the other instruments and melodies that echo with intensity. The lute accompanies the violin and other string instruments with its Renaissance sound. Lute strings individually plucked slow the piece and increase the intensity of anticipation in the second movement.

In Concerto in A major, Vivaldi uses violins with three echo violins. In the CD program they explain that when this piece was played for the Polish Prince, the primary violinist was visible but that they echo violinists were hidden around the concert hall, which I can only guess was a delightful and playful game to play with the listening audience of the time. In this concerto, the violins sound so birdlike as they echo each other's songs back and forth. In the final movement, Allegro, the violins boldly and sweetly play their echo game, no longer playing birds but mellowing into instruments of joy.

In Violin Concerto in C Major we hear graceful refrains that build like the Spring section of the Four Seasons.

In the Concerto in C Major we hear the finest piece on the whole CD in terms of complexity and orchestration. The recorder is used along with instruments called chalumeaux and theorbos. The grand march sound of the Allegro molto subsides long enough to hear the wonderful wind instruments complimented by mandolins, giving a delightful break from the violins. I think this concerto is my favorite on the CD, with the warm sounds of rare instruments permeating the piece.Yet, how can one pick a favorite from this wonderful collection of music.

Vivaldi is so elegant, so graceful and balanced. I love his music because it puts demands only on my ear the way Matisse puts demands only on my eyes. He transports me.

5 out of 5 stars Diversity is your best bet.......2005-09-03

The final work on this superb CD is one of Vivaldi's true masterworks. Like his incredibly famous Four Seasons, this work has true inspiration and a sound that is second to none. This Concerto in C is written for an astonishing array of diverse instruments. My favorite is the one that sounds just like a clarinet, although the clarinet, as we know it today, was not invented until decades later. This is a work that musicians just seem to absolutely adore. This is my third recording of this piece and in each case the performance has had amazing enthusiasm. It is a work that should be in everybody's library. Unless you have a strong dislike for the baroque or Vivaldi, you should enjoy this music. The rest of the music here is standard Vivaldi. It is interesting and has wonderful sounds, but not really inspired. However, at the budget price, the CD is well worth the money for the one masterpiece it has.

5 out of 5 stars Just sublime.......2004-11-05

I bought this fantastic CD over a year ago and it became my most cherished 'Classics' possession. Then thieves broke in to my home and stole it along with many others. I've finally had it replaced by the insurance company, and am now revisting the beautiful sounds of this program. Superb playing, great collection of works, and the usual sublime recording quality from a HM production. This has to be one of the essential Vivaldi recordings, especially valued given the lower price.

5 out of 5 stars Great Music as expected from Andrew Manze.......2003-06-23

Andrew Manze and the Academy of Ancient Music
again in this recording doing a wonderful job
the performances are splendid, the acoustics
are also wonderful. The Academy of Ancient Music
plays with clarity. Indeed, with this recording
the music of Vivaldi reached perfection!
Highly recomended!
Vivaldi - Concert for the Prince of Poland / AAM · Manze
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Exuberant, beautiful
  • One of the Best Ever!
  • A Dazzling Musical Experience
  • dull and lifeless
  • So crisp, alive, and electric your hair will stand on end.
 Vivaldi - Concert for the Prince of Poland / AAM · Manze
Antonio Vivaldi , Andrew Manze , The Academy of Ancient Music , Iona Davies , Helen Gough , Michael Harris , Trevor Jones , Amanda MacNamara , Rachel Beckett , David Miller , and Paula Chateauneuf
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by VivaldiAll Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Concert for the Prince of Poland

ASIN: B000005Z36
Release Date: 1998-02-10

Tracks:

  1. Sinfonia In G Major, RV 149: Allegro molto
  2. Sinfonia In G Major, RV 149: Andante
  3. Sinfonia In G Major, RV 149: Allegro
  4. Violin Concerto In E-Flat Major, 'La tempesta di Mare,' Op. VIII, No. 5, RV 253: Presto
  5. Violin Concerto In E-Flat Major, 'La tempesta di Mare,' Op. VIII, No. 5, RV 253: Largo
  6. Violin Concerto In E-Flat Major, 'La tempesta di Mare,' Op. VIII, No. 5, RV 253: Presto
  7. Concerto In D Minor, RV 540: Allegro
  8. Concerto In D Minor, RV 540: Largo
  9. Concerto In D Minor, RV 540: Allegro
  10. Concerto In A Major, RV 552: Allegro
  11. Concerto In A Major, RV 552: Larghetto
  12. Concerto In A Major, RV 552: Allegro
  13. Violin Concerto In C Major, 'Il piacere,' Op. VIII, No. 6, RV 180: Allegro
  14. Violin Concerto In C Major, 'Il piacere,' Op. VIII, No. 6, RV 180: Largo e cantabile
  15. Violin Concerto In C Major, 'Il piacere,' Op. VIII, No. 6, RV 180: Allegro
  16. Concerto In C Major, RV 558: Allegro molto
  17. Concerto In C Major, RV 558: Andante
  18. Concerto In C Major, RV 558: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Exuberant, beautiful.......2002-12-06

I doubt that Vivaldi's been played with this much exuberance and delicacy since the 18th century. A great collection of concerti beautifully performed and recorded. Andrew Manze and the Academy of Ancient Music have outdone themselves. If you love baroque music this is a great disc for you, if you're not sure this is a great place to start.

5 out of 5 stars One of the Best Ever!.......2002-06-13

If you think that all Vivaldi concerti sound alike, you have a point. It's hard not to recognize his style, even upon hearing a piece for the first time. But the point is pointless. Within his stylistic vocabulary, Vivaldi achieved subtle and poignant variety. This album makes a strong case for Vivaldi as a master craftsman of music, and it makes that case most strongly for the listener who does understand what he/she is hearing in technical terms.
The performance is superb: excellent balance, excellent acoustics, unbeatable ensemble, heavenly tuning. The reviewer who called this disc "lifeless" must be a country music fan.

4 out of 5 stars A Dazzling Musical Experience.......2000-12-04

I'll warn you up front that this review is coming from a person who is not well schooled in the art of classical music. My philosophy has simply been (and this applies to all styles of music that I enjoy) that good music will strike a responsive chord within the listener.

What appealed to me about this particular work was not only the fact that it was originally performed on a March night in 1740 with the involvement of director/composer Antonio Vivaldi, it is performed on this CD using period instruments. When listening to this music I can mentally recreate the image of what it must have been like to be among the concertgoers with the Prince of Poland as they sat at the Pieta in Venice listening to Vivaldi direct what may have been by some accounts his last compositions. [Vivaldi died July 1741, penniless and almost forgotten.]

Vivaldi is perhaps best known to the general public for "The Four Seasons," but this "Concert for the Prince of Poland" has its rewards. It is a truly joyful and exhilarating listening experience. RECOMMENDED

1 out of 5 stars dull and lifeless.......1999-12-11

The music Vivaldi composed for this occasion is definitely wonderful, but the performance in this CD is rather boring. "Il Giardino Armonico" also recorded some of the works listed in this CD. Take a listen and you'll know the difference! Compared to their playing, any other performance is pale and lifeless. Try their recording "Vivaldi: Works for Lute & Mandolin."

5 out of 5 stars So crisp, alive, and electric your hair will stand on end........1999-10-15

Easily the best CD I've purchased this year. Vivaldi performed on these old instruments isn't the Vivaldi your parents listened to. Fabulous musicianship, thoughtful interpretation, rich instrument tones and "front row" accoustics make recording magic. I'm buying a quantity for holiday gift giving. Do yourself a favor and travel back in time with this selection. I only hope that the Prince got to hear it like this.

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