Antonio Vivaldi: Expansion 1 - L'estro armonico, Op. 3, Nos. 1-12 (1711)

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  • Among the abundance of Vivaldi’s concertos, a notable mention goes to the 12 Concertos Op. 3 “L’estro armonico,” the 12 Concertos Op. 4 “La stravaganza,” along with the additional 8 concerts from Op. 8 “Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione,” and the 12 Concertos Op. 9 “La cetra.”

  • Among these, I highly recommend the 12 Concertos Op. 3 as a direct follow-up to the Four Seasons, thanks to their accessibility and the rich variety of moods they offer.

  • My personal favorite version, which I’ve treasured for years and often gifted, is the one performed by Camerata Romana under the baton of Eugen Duvier, available on 2 CDs from the budget label Forum, most likely from the 1990s.

  • For a classic rendition worth exploring on YouTube, I suggest the recording by I Musici - recorded in 1962 and released as a 3-CD box set in 1969, with remastered versions available as a double CD since 1991. I’ve always found I Musici’s concertante interpretation, akin to a group of soloists playing together, particularly captivating for Vivaldi; they are widely accessible on YouTube.

  • Another notable recording, among others, is the complete performance by the Accademia Bizantina from 2002/2003, which can be found on YouTube: A. Vivaldi: L’Estro Armonico, Op. 3, Accademia Bizantina (uploaded since late 2014, currently boasting around 1.4 million views), with a total duration of 1:37:16. This recording conveniently provides timestamps for each movement and their respective sections, allowing for targeted listening.

  • Alternatively, I recommend checking out the rendition by the esteemed Christopher Hogwood (*1941) and his Academy Of Ancient Music from 1980, available on YouTube: Christopher Hogwood Vivaldi: L’Estro Armonico, Op.3, with a total duration of 1:35:10 (uploaded on October 15, 2016, currently boasting 120,781 views as of February 5, 2025). One unique aspect of this presentation is the continuous display of the full scores, making it ideal for in-depth study. This recording also provides timestamps for each movement and their respective sections.