Album

Venetian liturgical music of the early 18th century tended to be indistinguishable from opera except that the texts were sacred rather than theatrical, allowing congregations to hear the same kinds of displays of flamboyant virtuosity they could expect in the opera house (and often with the same singers). Vivaldi's two settings of the Gloria, both in D major and both from 1715, are no exceptions to that trend, and offer a spectacular showcase for soloists. This Naïve release, part of its Vivaldi Edition, features the singers and players of Concerto Italiano, led by its founder Rinaldo Alessandrini, and contralto Sara Mingardo. Alessandrini's mastery in this repertoire is evident in the supple elegance of the performances, his keen sense of pacing, and particularly in the nuanced balance of the choral parts. The 13-member chorus can sound full as well as intimate, and the youthful blend is especially appealing. The members of the chorus who step into solo roles, sopranos Anna Simboli, Alena Dantcheva, Lia Serafini, and Monica Piccinini, and tenor Luca Dordolo, are all terrific. Mingardo brings a warm, grounded, true contralto sound to her solos, as well as a seamlessly smooth legato and refinement of phrasing. It's intriguing to hear the "famous" Gloria, RV 589, along with the more obscure but no less attractive RV 588. (Vivaldi curiously appropriated and reworked a setting by Giovanni Maria Ruggieri for the final chorus, "Cum sancto spiritu," for both his versions.) Alessandrini also includes the pieces Vivaldi wrote as introductions to the Glorias, Ostro picta, armata spina for soprano solo for RV 589, and Jubilate o ameni Chori for contralto solo for RV 588. Naïve's sound is wonderfully clear and crisp, but with plenty of warmth.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
Antonio Vivaldi Composer Ostro picta, armata spina in D, RV642 (introduction to Gloria, RV588) Work 6:34 Sara Mingardo Contralto, Monica Piccinini Soprano, Concerto Italiano Orchestra, Rinaldo Alessandrini Conductor
1	1.Aria: Ostro picta, armata spina	2:49			$0.99
2	2.Recitativo: Sic transit vana et brevis gloria mundi	0:55			$0.99
3	3.Aria: Linguis favete	2:50			$0.99
Antonio Vivaldi Composer Gloria in D, RV589 Work 27:09 Sara Mingardo Contralto, Concerto Italiano Orchestra, Nicholas Robinson Violin, Anna Simbola Soprano, Rinaldo Alessandrini Conductor
4	1.Gloria in excelsis Deo	2:10			$0.99
5	2.Et in terra pax hominibus	3:28			$0.99
6	3.Laudamus te	1:57			$0.99
7	4.Gratias agimus tibi; 5.Propter magnam gloriam tuam	1:26			$0.99
8	6.Domine Deus, Rex caelestis	4:30			$0.99
9	7.Domine fili unigenite	2:07			$0.99
10	8.Domine Deus, agnus Dei	4:39			$0.99
11	9.Qui tollis peccata mundi	0:53			$0.99
12	10.Qui sedes ad dextram patris	2:05			$0.99
13	11.Quoniam tu solus sanctus	0:43			$0.99
14	12.Cum sancto spiritu	3:11			$0.99
Antonio Vivaldi Composer Jubilate, o amoeni chori, RV639 (introduction to Gloria, RV588) Work 9:19 Sara Mingardo Contralto, Concerto Italiano Orchestra, Rinaldo Alessandrini Conductor
15	1.Jubilate, o amoeni chori	5:06			$0.99
16	2.Recitativo: In tam solemni pompa	0:30			$0.99
17	Sonoro modulamine. Allegro	3:43			$0.99
Antonio Vivaldi Composer Gloria in D, RV588 Work 23:44 Lia Serafini Soprano, Sara Mingardo Contralto, Luca Dordolo Tenor, Monica Piccinini Soprano, Concerto Italiano Orchestra, Alena Dantcheva Soprano, Guido Campana Oboe, Rinaldo Alessandrini Conductor
18	2.Et in terra pax	5:30			$0.99
19	3.Laudamus te	2:00			$0.99
20	4.Gratias agimus tibi	0:58			$0.99
21	5.Domine Deus	2:08			$0.99
22	6.Domine Fili unigenite	1:40			$0.99
23	7.Domine Deus, Agnus Dei	1:42			$0.99
24	8.Qui tollis peccata mundi	1:32			$0.99
25	9.Qui sedes	3:34			$0.99
26	10.Quoniam tu solus sanctus	1:23			$0.99
27	11.Cum Sancto Spiritu	3:17			$0.99