Never judge a CD by its cover; nothing about this album's tacky artwork nor the scanty information on its back will prepare the listener for the truly delectable contents inside. The refined period performances of Vivaldi's chamber concertos by the fabulous
L'Astrée ensemble make this album a delightful experience, and despite Opus 111's questionable packaging, the label deserves high marks for providing exquisite sound quality and for devoting serious attention to a worthy project. Part of a series surveying all the manuscripts in the Vivaldi collection of the National University Library in Turin, this volume presents nine works in various combinations for flute, recorder, oboe, bassoon, violin, cello, theorbo, guitar, and harpsichord. Best-known of the selections is the Concerto in D major, RV 90, "Il gardellino," celebrated for its gentle lyricism and clever mimicry a goldfinch. Also familiar is the Concerto in D major, RV 95, "La pastorella," which features a vivid depiction of a rustic dance in the third movement. The remaining concertos are equally enjoyable, for
L'Astrée's vibrant playing and the transparent timbres of its original instruments bring crispness, spontaneity, and even a feeling of novelty to Vivaldi's music.