Sonatas for Cellos

1. Sonata Prima à Tre Violoncelli in A minor
Composed by Giacobbe Basevi Cervetto
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

2. Sonata Sesta à Tre Violoncelli in C minor
Composed by Giacobbe Basevi Cervetto
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

3. Sonata con Cembalo e Violoncello Obligati in A major
Composed by Giovanni Battista Martini
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

4. Sonata Prima à due Violoncelli e Basso o Cembalo in D major
Composed by Giovanni Battista Cirri
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

5. Sonata Terza à due Violoncelli e Basso o Cembalo in A major
Composed by Giovanni Battista Cirri
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

6. Sonata Sesta (Trio) à due Violincelli e Basso Continuo in E minor
Composed by Martino
with Laura Alvini , Concerto Ensemble , Roberto Gini , Paolo Rizzi , Claudio Frigerio , Sabina Colonna Preti

Customer Reviews:

Focus on the Recordings.......2007-07-23

I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.

The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.

First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.

I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.

DISC 1:
Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.

DISC 2:
Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.

DISC 3:
The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.

DISC 4:
Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.

DISC 5:
A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.
Tracks 4, 6, 7 and the whole "La Notte" are extraordinary.

DISC 6:
Exquisitely recorded and performed by the Budapest Strings.

DISC 7:
Marvelous performance on the whole disc.
Tracks 22 & 24 are non-plus-ultra.

DISC 8:
Great performance too.
Suggested tracks: 7, 12, 15, 24

DISC 9:
To have an original baroque organ playing is a plus.
Solo strings are lacking in quality (for example: tracks 6 & 7).
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15

DISC 10:
Despite being and ADD recording, the quality is fairly good. The cello is very well played.
Suggested tracks: 3, 4, 12
Excellent track: 13

DISC 11:
Same musical group and soloist as DISC 10. The contrabass is extremely distorted sometimes, and if you take into consideration that this is an ADD recording, it can get pretty bad. Some background noise is perceived.
Suggested tracks: 3, 6, 9

DISC 12:
The compositions are somewhat boring, either way the performance is plain decent.
Suggested tracks: 10, 12

DISC 13:
Good performance and sound quality.
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7
Excellent track: 12

DISC 14:
Good performance and sound quality too.
Suggested tracks: 10, 14, 16
Excellent track: 5

DISC 15:
Badly mixed, the basoon is blocking the whole ensamble by being in the foreground.
The playing precision is lacking.
An AWEFUL thing about this recording is that you can hear the basson key-sticking with the instrument and the saliva. It's horrible.
Such a pity, the sound of the basson with other instruments can be pretty interesting.

DISC 16:
Violins sound a bit off tempo.
Suggested tracks: 4, 8

DISC 17:
Good sound quality and performance.
Suggested tracks: 1, 7, 9

DISC 18:
Despite being an old recording, it is a very welcome one.
The performance is very well above par. Tempo is fantastic.
The quality of the recording could have been better due to some string plucking that is heard and which can become bothersome.
These are some of Vivaldi's best know tunes.
Suggested tracks: 4, 6, 13
Excellent tracks: 1, 3

DISC 19:
Lively recording.
Track 6 is the same piece found in another disc in the collection, but with a better performance.

DISC 20:
By now you've heard all of this pieces before in the other discs. Nothing new here, nor better.

This is a fantastic deal!.......2007-02-25

If you are a fan at all of the Four Seasons you should love this music. I will admit right now that I am a classical music fan. I don't write or perform it. I am a novice listener. I have never taken any music lessons(though I am leaning in that direction) and certainly have not gone through any university music training. I started out in rock and roll but found classical as I got older and fell in love with it a few years ago.

With that context in mind I do hope I am able to recognize quality and this work is of the highest. It helps when you are starting with good ingredients in the first place. You can't bake great bread without great ingredients and Vivaldi's music library has some of the greatest musical ingredients of the last 300 years. They are very much the foundation for modern western culture and music. His talent is woven through what we are

The first 26 CDs are instrumental starting with the four seasons and working through many of the Master's many popular works. I will admit the four seasons are not the best interpretation I have heard but it is definitely acceptable. The rest of the music shows us many facets of the Baroque style and you can see themes emerging through some of the pieces that give us a 'fingerprint' of Vivaldi's style and the parameters of the stylistic leanings of the genre at the time. If you want to immerse yourself in 18th century music this is your chance

This music would be ideal for someone who owns a store and is looking for background music. With over 26 CDs of instrumental music alone you could have those constantly looping and you'd probably never get bored of them(OK I may be stretching it a little there). The reason is that the music does not leave a bad 'aftertaste' in your mind. It fits into the background as easily and naturally as it is to listen to it consciously in the foreground. If you are a fan of classical Baroque you don't usually need to be in the mood for this, it will adjust your mood to itself and Vivaldi's music is almost always of an uplifting sort if this collection is any indication. If you want something to listen to at your job 8 hours per day this is good for the mind and it would take you over a week to get through it if you listened to it every minute of every work day. You will also work without the worry of the music distracting your concentration. I find it enhances it when I'm working. I don't know how well this would work on school kids but teachers might want to try playing this during school time. You may create a few geniuses, we certainly could use more!

If you are looking for something to ease your sleep and oil your dreams I have put these CD's on in the background. Not only can I easily fall asleep when they are playing quietly in the background but it helps you sleep and you wake up in a very pleasant atmosphere if the music is still playing quietly when you wake(you probably would need to rip them to your MP3 player to do that). It's like napping at a classical music concert without the worry of being nudged by your spouse or offending the other concert goers with your snoring. That will be quite a unique experience for you and possibly give you some real sweet dreams. It has for me

So to wrap it up this is very intelligent, uplifting music that is great for your mind and your soul. It is definitely worth the purchase if you are a fan of the Four Seasons and the Baroque genre in my novice classical music fan's opinion

Excellent, Broad Selection.......2007-01-25

This 40-cd collection affords me a rare pleasure almost daily: the thrill of hearing something new by Vivaldi. Despite my best efforts over the years, I've managed to miss hearing a lot of great works by the master. Listening to a single CD now and then, catching tunes on the radio... you can't possibly get a comprehensive understanding of Vivaldi's output that way.

But when you work your way systematically from CD 1 through 40, you're sure to find many pleasant surprises. I've been skipping through everything I already know -- in some cases, it has only taken me about a minute to get through a whole CD (first 3 seconds of each track is usually enough). But then I stop and listen carefully three or four times to anything that's new.

Ah, what a pleasure. I've already acquired some new favorites. And some old standbys have proved even more rewarding, e.g. at first I thought RV 127 (CD 7, tracks 10-12) was performed too slowly (Naxos No: 8.553742 is much faster), but now I'm not sure; maybe it's BETTER that way! I can't recommend this set highly enough.

$70....when was this???.......2006-11-25

Wish the cost was $70 now. Guess the record producer (or Amazon) got tired of making less than $2 per CD.

$70/40... you do the math........2006-04-07

No, I don't own this collection...yet. However, the price of the collection compels me to review it beforehand. Never have I seen such a complete collection of Vivaldi compositions at such an incredibly low price. At $1.75 dollars a CD, the record producer (Brilliant Classics) isn't making much of a profit. The compilation pulls some of its works from DG Achiv Produktion's vault (see Standage), such as the violin concertos, as well as from unknown producers (the Poland Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is heavily featured). The collection is so complete that it is academic, and I would not be surprised if music libraries quickly emptied it from Amazon's shelves. The collection is simply worth it for the incredible price (English Concert's recording of the violin concertos cost nearly 30 bucks, and is exactly featured here). Overall, the price alone makes this collection exceptionally attractive, and the ensembles featured aren't bad either.

Average customer rating:

Pretty Damn Good
Great CD, specially the adagio.
It's No Louis Clark & the Royal Philharmonic... But it's ok
No So Great

Hooked on Classics 4: Baroque

Manufacturer: K-Tel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Hooked on Classics 3: Journey Through the Classics
Hooked On Classics
More Hooked On Classics
Hooked on Classics
Hooked on Christmas

ASIN: B000000RYV
Release Date: 1992-05-08

Tracks:

Hooked On Baroque 2
Hooked On Adagio
Hooked On Gigue
Hooked On Fugue
Hooked On Handel
Hooked On Vivaldi
Hooked On Scarlatti
Hooked On Baroque 2 (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Damn Good.......2004-07-06

I received as a gift the box set of all four Hooked On Classics CD's. As an avid fan of classical music, I was quite shocked to hear DRUMS in the background! I didn't really know what the Hooked On Classics series was, so I didn't know what to expect. As such, I eventually got used to the percussion, and found that I liked the fourth CD the best of all of them. The drums are more tolerable, and the recording quality is much improved over the other volumes. The playing is superb; on par with any legitimate recording made by any professional orchestra. The selections are diverse, and the arrangements are refreshing. HOC 4 was my link to many of the full-length versions of the excerpts featured, and I especially like the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th tracks (the 8th track is simply an extended version of the 1st, which makes it a much better rendition). The harpsichord playing in the 7th track is outstanding, as are the arrangements for this track. The climax will give you chills. All in all, an excellent album. I give it four stars only because as a die-hard purist, I don't suppose Bach and Vivaldi and Scarlatti would be too happy if they were to hear percussion along with their music. It would be interesting to see what the tracks would sound like without this.

Great CD, specially the adagio........2004-01-28

I love this CD in particular, because it introduced me to various greatest hits of baroque. I used it to practice my music as a teenager. I recommed this to you, specially if you have kids, because the drum sounds, make it easier to listen to the new generations. I loved the Pachelbel, and the adagio part is Super Excellent.

It's No Louis Clark & the Royal Philharmonic... But it's ok.......2003-12-07

Back in 81 when I got the original Hooked on Classics record as a gift (which I still have), I discovered the beauty and power of classical music in a different way. Now, classical music makes up 1/3 of my music library because of that compilation of classics (thanks to Louis Clark and the Royal Philharmonic).

So would I say this volume 4 has the same effect? I'd answer no, but I did like tracks 2 & 7.

No So Great.......2003-10-29

Once again another pathetic attempt at recreating what Louis Clark did with the original Hooked on the Classics. He succeeded by getting many of us hooked to the classics...something this album probably can't and won't do.

Luigi Boccherini: String Quintets, Op. 29 / Cello Sonatas - Anner Bylsma / Sigiswald Kuijken / Wieland Kuijken / Alda Stuurop / Lucy van Dael / Hopkinson Smith

Average customer rating:

This is not a CD
Boccherini: String Quintets Op 29, Cello Sonatas/Bylsma

Luigi Boccherini: String Quintets, Op. 29 / Cello Sonatas - Anner Bylsma / Sigiswald Kuijken / Wieland Kuijken / Alda Stuurop / Lucy van Dael / Hopkinson Smith
Luigi Boccherini (Composer) , Anner Bylsma (Cello) , Sigiswald Kuijken (Violin) , Wieland Kuijken (Cello) , Alda Stuurop(Violin) , Lucy Van Dael (Viola) , and Hopkinson Smith (Guitar)
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000029Y8
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

String Quintets, Op. 29: No.1, D Major, G 313 - I. Andante moderato
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.1, D Major, G 313 - II. Minuetto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.1, D Major, G 313 - III. Cantabile
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.1, D Major, G 313 - IV. Finale. Allegro
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.2, C Minor, G 314 - I. Allegro vivo
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.2, C Minor, G 314 - II. Largo assai
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.2, C Minor, G 314 - III. Minuetto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.2, C Minor, G 314 - IV. Fuga. Allegro giusto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.3, F Major, G 315 - I. Adagio
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.3, F Major, G 315 - II. Allegro vivo
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.3, F Major, G 315 - III. Andante: lantarello
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.4, A Major, G 316 - I. Allegro moderato
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.4, A Major, G 316 - II. Minuetto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.4, A Major, G 316 - III. Largo. Cantabile
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.4, A Major, G 316 - IV. Presto. Il ballo tedesco

Tracks:

String Quintets, Op. 29: No.5, E - Flat Major, G 317 - I. Allegro moderato
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.5, E - Flat Major, G 317 - II. Minuetto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.5, E - Flat Major, G 317 - III. Andante. Lento
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.5, E - Flat Major, G 317 - IV. Finale. Allegro vivo
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.6, G Minor, G 318 - I. Allegro moderato assai
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.6, G Minor, G 318 - II. Minuetto
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.6, G Minor, G 318 - III. Preludio. Adagio
String Quintets, Op. 29: No.6, G Minor, G 318 - IV. Rondo. Allegro giusto
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 6: I. Allegro
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 6: II. Largo assai
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 6: III. Allegro moderato
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 4: I. Allegro moderato
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 4: . Adagio
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 4: III. Affettuoso
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 17: I. Allegro
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 17: II. Largo assai
Sonata For Violincello & Basso Continuo, G 17: III. Rondo. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

This is not a CD.......2000-08-23

Be aware! This is a small part of paradise, disguised as a CD...

Boccherini: String Quintets Op 29, Cello Sonatas/Bylsma.......2000-07-29

If you like your Baroque chamber music at a rousing fast pace (like I do) then you will really love this CD. Luigi Boccherini is one of my favorite Italian Baroque composers, and this CD is really great. Even if you don't think that you like chamber music because it is too slow and bland, you will change your mind if you listen to this CD.

Average customer rating:

The Best of Ofra Harnoy

Manufacturer: Mastersound
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DWVT
Release Date: 1993-09-28

Average customer rating:

Excellent Sample of Cello Masterworks

The Magic Of The Cello

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Romantic Cello

ASIN: B000005EC2
Release Date: 1994-08-02

Tracks:

Con Op.101 in D: Allegro - Fredreric Lodeon
Con No.9 for in B flat: Rondo Allegro - Fredreric Lodeon
Son No.1 in G: Allegro - Paul Tortelier/Robert Veyron-Lacroix
Con No.2 in G: Romance - Fredreric Lodeon
Son No.4 RV47 in B flat: Largo - Paul Tortelierr/Robert Veyron-Lacroix
DUO Op.1 No.3 in G: Adagio-Presto - Fredreric Lodeon
Con No.1 Op.33 in a: Allegro non troppo - Paul Tortelier
Con for in d: Intermezzo - Paul Tortelier
Sonata in g: Finale - Yvan Chiffloleau/Jean Hubeau
Son Op.65 in g: Largo - Fredreric Lodeon/Francois-Rene Duchable
Romance Op. 36 - Roland Pidoux
Son No.1 Op. 109 in d: Andante - Roland Pidoux/Jean-Claude Pennetier
Elegie Op.24 - Roland Pidoux/Jean-Claude Pennetier

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Sample of Cello Masterworks.......2001-02-09

This is a fine, exquisitely performed sampler of superb cello pieces from the Baroque to the Romantics. The French soloists play the pieces with taste and aplomb; a very pleasant CD to hear.

Corrette; Boismortier: Les Delices de la Solitude - Sonatas for Bassoon and Continuo /Bond * van der Meer * Kohnen

Average customer rating:

Corrette; Boismortier: Les Delices de la Solitude - Sonatas for Bassoon and Continuo /Bond * van der Meer * Kohnen
Danny Bond , Joseph Bodin de Boismortier , Michel Corrette , Robert Kohnen , and Richte van der Meer
Manufacturer: Accent Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000443Q
Release Date: 1999-01-01

Tracks: