Vocal Seasons

A superstar package from Decca for Cecilia Bartoli on this disk, The Vivaldi Album. I don't begrudge it in her case though since she puts a lot of work and research into her projects to avoid the commonplace and routine flogging of warhorses. Vivaldi may not be a little known composer but there is so much to his output and much of the material on this disk was neglected or undiscovered. There are six world premieres while another couple of arias strongly resemble movements from the Four Seasons. Bartoli is in fine vocal form but the text and acting of the various arias takes precedence over pure sound quality. Some of the aspirates can get a little wearing but it is an affectation I can forgive. Much of the drive and enjoyment on the disk comes from the "backing band" Il Giardino Armonico conducted by Giovanni Antonini. Playing on period instruments, they are delicate where appropriate and bumptious and exuberant when necessary. Occasionally, a chorus is called for and these duties are undertaken by the Arnold Schoenberg Chor, chorus master Simon Schouten. Forget any hype, the musicianship can take it.