HIGH Fidelity

ANTONIO VIVALDI
"L'AMORE PER ELVIRA"

Ensemble: Le Serenissima
Date of issue: 11/07/2006
Carrier: SACD/HDCD

Track listing:

1. Elvira, anima mia, RV654 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Mhairi Lawson (Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Serenissima
2. Lungi dal vago volto, RV680 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Mhairi Lawson (Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Serenissima
3. Trio Sonata for Violin, Cello and Continuo in C minor, RV83 by Antonio Vivaldi
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Serenissima
4. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in D, RV11 by Antonio Vivaldi
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Serenissima
Notes: arr Chandler
5. Sonata for Violin and Continuo in B minor, RV37 by Antonio Vivaldi
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Serenissima
Notes: arr Chandler
6. Tremori al braccio, RV798 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Mhairi Lawson (Soprano)

L'amore per Elvira is the first recording of the baroque music ensemble for the Scottish, audiophile publisher LINN Records. On the disc, besides earlier known cantatas, two premiere performances of reconstructed sonatas "Graz" are found. L'amore per Elvira, written in the years 1716-20 on request from one of the European courts, consists of three cantatas. In the first one, "Tremori al braccio" (RV 799) the lover (we learn later that his name is Fileno) confesses, that he is unable to profess his love for Elvira, and he succeeds, although not without afterthought, only in the finale. In the second cantata "Elvira mia, mia" (RV 654) Fileno brings bad news to Elvira - he has to leave her for some time and asks for a kiss before he leaves. In the last part - "Lungi dal vago volto" (RV 680) the returning Fileno unites with his love in the final aria. For the first time two sonatas "Graz", coming from the Diözesanarchiv in Graz are presented. Their bass line was thoroughly reconstructed by Adrian Chandler. The last piece, sonata for violin and viola RV83 represents the only sonata of that kind, that we know for sure was written by Vivaldi. It is worth to notice its three part structure, similar to a concerto.
Le Serenissima ensemble was founded in 1994 especially to perform the composition "La Senna fastegiante" (RV693) from Vivaldi, and quickly earned recognition as the performer of Vivaldi's music and other contemporary composers. The first disc was recorded in 2003 and was very well received by leading music magazines. The sound of the violin, as usual by LINNs recordings, is very natural - both in the high registers as in the midrange. The body of the instrument, the resonance cabinet, is very well marked in space. The harpsichord was registered in an interesting and very nice way. This is a quiet instrument, so it is often made louder by the sound engineers on the console or by using an additional microphone. This brings some advantages, like for example more precise, more resonant sound, heard very well as a resonant background. Here we have a more pure realization, that requires a better resolution from the system than usual, as it is more dull, and has a clearly "boxy" sound, just like in reality. This is really a very good recording of this instrument. The LINN recording is completely deprived from any sharpness and "splinters". Not being bright it transfers enormous amounts of information about the instrument and the space. The stage is large and laid in a natural way. Maybe only the stage could be deeper. The voice in "Tremori al braccio" was reproduced quite close, but in a way it had a relaxed character, that suggested large space around it. A large role in the recordings from this disc plays the reverb, what makes the sound less resolved on too dark systems.

Sound quality: 8-9/10

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