Vivarte Collection Vol. Ii

This is an absolutely exquisite collection of music, in the music itself, in the performances, and in the technical excellence of the recordings. The set comes in a handsome, padded, durable box, and includes a 240-page booklet discussing the pieces and the social and musical contexts in which they arose. I have discovered so much music I knew nothing about. While I haven’t listened to each of the 60 cd’s yet, I wanted to write a review before the novelty of the collection had worn off. My impetus for this purchase was owning the Vivarte Vol. I box, which is equally excellent, I highly recommend both. The seller deserves 5 stars as well, as the collection arrived promptly and well-packaged to protect the contents. As far as I’m concerned, listening to this collection is musical nirvana. I am neither a classical music expert nor particularly knowledgeable about the technical side of musical production. But I do know stellar music when I hear it.

A welcome addition to Volume 1, Many were produced by Wolf Erichson, who was behind many classic recordings on Das Alte Werk before starting SEON before moving to Vivarte. Volume two relies more heavily on the recordings of Taffelmusik and L'Archibudelli. Not that it is a bad thing, but like the first volume, about a third of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Complete Sony Recordings box is duplicated in this box. (A handful are also duplicated in 50 Great Recordings ) This makes me think that Sony might be planning on a Volume 3, which will have the remaining third. I am especially enjoying L'Arcibudelli's recordings of chamber music. These seem refreshingly different in their conception from many of the more famous recordings of these pieces. For example, the Trout Quintet is played at a very lively pace with fortepiano, which seems to blend very nicely with the strings. There is a minimum of vibrato, which also lightens things up. I've seen many reviewers talk about how this box or that will not supplant their top shelf recording of whatever piece they dearly love, and I think that is missing the point. These boxes, are filled with some gems, and some honorable mentions. But I, for one, have changed my attitude about listening and collecting now that these collections are being made available at prices near $1 a disc. When disks were 10 to 15 dollars each, I had to make sure I wasn't wasting the limited funds I had on a disk that I wouldn't treasure. I can listen to recordings now and be much less critical; appreciating aspects of the recording without having to be judgmental about whether it is the best or not. I think this has made me more open to different interpretations. Here's a complete listing of what is on the set: anon.: Sanctus in eternis - Sanctus et ingenitus Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Si doulchement mon cuer je sens souspris Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Je sui trestout d'amour raimpli Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Je prens d'amour noriture Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Gloria Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Certes mout fu - Nous devons tresfort amer Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Je prens plaisir en une dame Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Credo Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Personet armonia Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Si doulcement me fait amours - Nulz vrais amans Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Bach, J C: Wie bist du denn, O Gott… Bach, J S: Cantata BWV27 'Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?' Tölzer Knabenchor Gustav Leonhardt Cantata BWV34 'O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe' Tölzer Knabenchor Gustav Leonhardt Cantata BWV41 'Jesu, nun sei gepreiset' Tölzer Knabenchor Gustav Leonhardt Motet BWV225 'Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied' Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Motet BWV229 'Komm, Jesu, komm!' Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Motet BWV226 'Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf' Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Motet BWV227 'Jesu, meine Freude' Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Motet BWV228 'Fürchte dich nicht' Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Motet BWV227 'Jesu, meine Freude' Gli Angeli Genève, Stephen McLeod Cantata BWV81 'Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?' Gli Angeli Genève, Stephen McLeod Cantata BWV180 'Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele' Gli Angeli Genève, Stephen McLeod Barbarino: O sacrum convivium La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor' Jos van Immerseel (piano) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 Vera Beths (violin) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Benda, Franz: Sonata in E minor for flute and bc Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Boccherini: Stabat Mater (1st version, 1781, for soprano & string orchestra), G.532 Roberta Invernizzi (soprano) L'Archibudelli String Quintet Op. 42 No. 1 in F minor, G348 L'Archibudelli String Quintet Op. 42 No. 2 in C major, G349 L'Archibudelli Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18 L'Archibudelli String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36 L'Archibudelli Bruhns: De profundis clamavi Brumel, A: Missa Et ecce terrae motus Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Dies Irae Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Buxtehude: Mein Herz ist bereit BuxWV 73 Ich bin die auferstehung, BuxWV 44 Oratoria - Wacht! Euch Zum Streit Gefasset Macht La Capelle Ducale Musica Fiata Cologne, Roland Wilson Jesu, meine Freude BuxWV 60 Gli Angeli Genève, Stephen McLeod Castaldi: Capriccio detto Svegliatoio La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Cima: Sonata per violino, cornetto e violine La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata per cornetto e trombone La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata per violino e violone La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Couperin, F: Pièces de clavecin III: Ordre 17ème in E major: La Superbe, ou La Forqueray Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Duphly: La Forqueray Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Erbach: Canzona a 4 del IV tono Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Fischer, J K F: Chaconne Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Forqueray, J-B: Harpsichord Suite No. 3 in D major Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Harpsichord Suite No. 4 in G minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Frederick II: Sonata for Flute and Continuo in E minor Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Froberger: Ricercare in G minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Tombeau faît à Paris sur la mort de monsieur Blancheroche FbWV 632 Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Suite No. 7 in E minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Capriccio in C major, FbWV 506 Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Ricercar VII in D minor, FbWV 407 Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Suite No. 8 in A major Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Gabrieli, G: Toccata à 4 (C237) La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Buccinate in neomenia tuba a 19 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Canzon XVII La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata con voce: Dulcis Jesu a 20 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Canzon à 12 echo La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Timor et tremor a 6 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata XXI con tre violini La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata XIX La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson In ecclesiis a 14 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Canzon V La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Jubilate Deo 10vv La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Sonata XVIII La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Cantate Domino, GWV61 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Canzon primi toni a 10 C176 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Misericordia tua, Domine à 12 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Canzon X á 8 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Toccata primi toni La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Magnificat à 33 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Benedictus es Dominus a 8 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Gade, N: Octet in F major, Op. 17 L'Archibudelli, Smithsonian Chamber Players Geminiani, F: Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 3 in D minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 1 in C minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 6 in A major Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 2 in C minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 4 in D major Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto grosso Op. 2 No. 5 in D minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerti grossi (12) after Op. 5 sonatas of Corelli, No. 3 in C Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerti grossi (12) after Op. 5 sonatas of Corelli, No. 5 in G minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice): Dance of the Blessed Spirits Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Orfeo ed Euridice Michael Chance (Orfeo), Nancy Argenta (Euridice) Tafelmusik, Frieder Bernius Don Juan - Ballet suite Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Semíramis reconocida: ballet pantomime Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Grandi: Heu mihi - Dialogo à 4 La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson O quam tu pulchra es La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Cantemus Domine La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Salvum me fac, Deus La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Graun, C H: Flute Sonata in G Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Graun, J G: Flute Sonata in C Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Hassler, J: Toccata No. 8 in G major Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Haydn: Flute Concerto in D major, Hob. VIIf: D1 Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Mass, Hob. XXII:10 in B flat major 'Heiligmesse' Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Mare Clausum Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Insanae et vanae curae Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Motetti de Venerabili Sacramento Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Te Deum, Hob. XXIIIc:2 'Grosses Te Deum' Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Mass, Hob. XXII:12 in B flat major 'Theresienmesse' Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Mass, Hob. XXII:11 in D minor 'Nelsonmesse' Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Mass, Hob. XXII: 9 in C major 'Paukenmesse' Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Salve Regina in G minor, Hob. XXIIIb:2 Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Motetto "Ocoelitum beati", Hob. XXIIIa:G9 Tölzer Knabenchor Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 82 in C major, 'The Bear' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 83 in G minor 'The Hen' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 84 in E flat major Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 85 in B flat major 'La Reine' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 86 in D major Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Symphony No. 87 in A major Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Hummel, J: Clarinet Quartet in E flat major Charles Neidich (clarinet) L'Archibudelli Kerll: Passacaglia in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Canzona No. 5 in C major Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Kirnberger: Flute Sonata in G Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Lasso: Lagrime di San Pietro Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 1 in A major, Op. 18 L'Archibudelli String Quintet No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 87 L'Archibudelli Octet in E flat major, Op. 20 L'Archibudelli, Smithsonian Chamber Players Monteverdi: Salve, O Regina La Capella Ducale, Roland Wilson Mozart: German Dances (6), K509 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil German Dances (6), K536 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil German Dances, K567 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Six German Dances K571 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil German Dances (12), K586 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil March in D Major K.445 L'Archibudelli March in F Major, K248 L'Archibudelli March for orchestra in D major, K290 L'Archibudelli Duo for 2 basset horns, KV487 No. 2 L'Archibudelli Duo for 2 basset horns, KV487 No. 5 L'Archibudelli Horn Quintet in E flat, K407 L'Archibudelli Duo for 2 basset horns, KV487 No. 10 L'Archibudelli Duo for 2 basset horns, KV487 No. 8 L'Archibudelli Ein musikalischer Spass K522 L'Archibudelli Allegro in F, K.288 L'Archibudelli Divertimento in D major, K320B (fragment) L'Archibudelli Idomeneo, K366: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K384: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Der Schauspieldirektor, K486: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Don Giovanni, K527: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Così fan tutte, K588: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil La clemenza di Tito, K621: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Die Zauberflöte, K620: Overture Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 13 in G major, K525 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 1 (Cassation) in D major, K100 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 4 in D major, K203 'Colloredo' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 7 in D major, K250 'Haffner' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 3 in D major, K185 (K167a) 'Antretter' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 5 in D major, K204 Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Serenade No. 9 in D major, K320 'Posthorn' Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Rondo for Horn & Orchestra in E flat major, K371 Ab Koster (horn) Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, K417 Ab Koster (horn) Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K447 Ab Koster (horn) Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K495 Ab Koster (horn) Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K412 (K386b) Ab Koster (horn) Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil String Quintet No. 3 in C major, K515 Anner Bylsma (cello) L'Archibudelli String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K516 Anner Bylsma (cello) L'Archibudelli Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K457 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Fantasia in C minor, K475 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Minuet in D major, K355 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Rondo in D major, K485 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Piano Sonata No. 15 in F major, K533/494 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Fantasia in D minor, K397 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Rondo in A minor, K511 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K545 'Facile' Jos van Immerseel (piano) Adagio in B minor, K540 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat major, K570 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K576 'Hunt' Jos van Immerseel (piano) Fantasia in C minor, K396 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Muffat, Gottlieb: Toccata No. 1 in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Toccata No. 5 in C minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Muthel: Flute Sonata in D major Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Pachelbel: Wir glauben all' an einen Gott Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Aria mit Variationen F-Dur Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Toccata in C major Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Pipelare: Vray dieu d'amours Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Een vrouelic wesen Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Fors seulement Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Salve regina Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Memorare Mater Christi Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Missa l'homme arme Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel Poglietti: Ricercar No. 3 a primi toni in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Quantz: Flute Sonata, QV 1:161 in B flat major (No. 275) Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (cello), Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Reicha, A: Quintet for Clarinet & String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 89 Charles Neidich (clarinet) L'Archibudelli Richter, F X: Flute Concerto in E minor Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Rosenmüller: Lamentations (3) of the Prophet Jeremiah Schubert: Mass No. 6 in E flat major, D950 Vienna Boys Choir Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Bruno Weil Mass No. 1 in F Major, D105 Vienna Boys Choir Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Bruno Weil Mass No. 2 in G major, D167 Vienna Boys Choir Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Bruno Weil Mass No. 3 in B flat Major, D324 Vienna Boys Choir Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Bruno Weil Mass No. 4 in C Major, D452 Vienna Boys Choir Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Bruno Weil String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, D87 L'Archibudelli String Trio in B flat major, D471 L'Archibudelli String Trio in B flat major, D581 L'Archibudelli Piano Quintet in A major, D667 'The Trout' Anner Bylsma (cello), Jos van Immerseel (piano) L'Archibudelli Sonata in A minor 'Arpeggione', D821 Jos van Immerseel (piano) Notturno in E flat major for piano trio, D897 (Op. post.148) Jos van Immerseel (piano) L'Archibudelli Octet in F major, D803 Mozzafiato, L'Archibudelli Schütz: Ich liege und schlafe, SWV 310 Fili mi, Absalon, SWV 269 Weihnachts-Historie, SWV435 Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Auferstehungshistorie, SWV50 Stuttgart Chamber Choir Stuttgart Baroque Orchestra, Frieder Bernius Symphoniae Sacrae II La Capella Ducale Musica Fiata Köln, Roland Wilson Vater Abraham, erbarme dich mein, SWV477 La Capella Ducale Musica Fiata Köln, Roland Wilson Speth: Echo Toccata IV in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Toccata prima in D oder, 'Erstes musicalisches Blumen-Feld' Gustav Leonhardt (organ) Stamitz, C: Flute Concerto in G major, Op. 29 Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Stamitz, J: Flute Concerto in G major Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Telemann: Schmücke dich o liebe Seele, TWV 1:1253-54 Gli Angeli Genève, Stephen McLeod Tunder: Salve coelestis pater Vivaldi: Cello Concerto in A minor, RV418 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto RV117 for strings in C major Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto for strings, RV 143 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto for Violin & Cello in B flat minor, RV 547 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto in G, RV575 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto, Op. 3 No. 1 'Con quattro Violini obligati', RV 549 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Cello Concerto in G major, RV413 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto for strings in E minor, RV 134 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Concerto for strings No. 12, RV 159 Anner Bylsma (cello) Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon Weber: Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, Op. 34, J182 Charles Neidich (clarinet) L'Archibudelli Weckmann: Kommet her zu mir… Suite in B minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Toccata in E minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Toccata in A minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Suite in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Suite in C minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Canzon in C major Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Toccata in D minor Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)

Great recordings. Two caveats. Where Vol 1 is genuinely an "early music" box, Vol 2 is much more skewed to classical and early romantic. The most-represented composers are Mozart (9 CDs), Schubert (6 CDs), Haydn (5), Gluck (3), Beethoven (3). Early music composers? Schutz (3), Buxtehude (2 1/2), Bach (1 1/2), Di Lasso (1), Brumel (1). A couple CDs of chant, several of randoms and "anon." Brahms 1, Josquin 0 - a ratio that's a little odd for an "early music" label! The packaging is kind of nocuous in two respects. First, the box is about 1/2 inch higher than any other CD box you have (it's a good deal taller than even the big Decca Puccini box, the second-tallest thing I have), so it probably won't fit in your CD rack. I threw out a sponge from the bottom of the box, and used a very sharp kitchen knife to take 1/2 inch off the box lid, and now it fits fine. But why design it this way? CD cases are all almost the same -- an outlier like this is a big pain in the rack. Second, the arrangement in the box is alphabetical -- except some CDs are alphabetized by composer, some by performer, some by a random word like "cantata" or "clarinet" or "festival," and a bunch at the end are just at the end because they're at the end. If I were doing this, I'd have arranged them chronologically somehow, maybe by date of death of the composer. Then when you grab something out of the box, you have some idea what you're getting. But these are second-order quibbles. Good listening, as long as you know what to expect.

Simply an astonishing set, both in terms of consistent performances, and of course in terms of value, with 60 CDs for about $70 Amazon retail. There's no way you can summarize so much variety. But let me say that the overall recording quality here is superb. If you check--or just sample--the reviews for the individual discs, you'll see there's consensus that in many cases these are the finest period performances available. I also own Vol 1 of these two (so far) Vivarte Collections. I can't recommend them both too highly. You could do a lot worse than start your classical music collection with these (total) 120 CDs! When it comes to period performance, these are names to conjure with. UPDATE: OMG, at this moment this set is about $60 Amazon retail--for 60 CDs! Maybe I should buy another one? Or three more?

What a great collection of truly wonderful music, most of it new to me (and I've been listening and collecting recordings for 40 years). Period instrument performances aren't to everyone's taste but if they are these are very high quality performances. I believe they are especially valuable for chamber music such as the Brahms sextets, the Schubert Trout Quintet and Mozart String Quintets - you hear details that modern instrument performances don't capture due to the homogeneity of the instruments.

i have heard all but the last discin this set. i will hear that later this afternoon. there is a lot of church music as well as a great sampling of other music. each disc sounds fantastic. the church music is very meditative. the price is fabulous. i think this set is every bit as good as the SEON box set that i have. now i will look into vol. 1 of this soon. at this price today a buck a disc hey how can one refuse this offer.

Excellent and varied.

A few things to mention about this remarkably inexpensive collection of 60 classical music CDs. First, most of these recordings are from the very early 1990s. As such this is a reprint from the Sony/Vivarte back catalog. Nothing wrong with that, but they don't have the most up to date sound quality. Second, there is rather a lot of Chorale music. Again, nothing wrong with that, unless you are not a big fan of chorale music (I am not.) Finally, the first volume in the series is now selling for sometimes large multiples on the second hand market, so make of that what you will on the value front!

Tolle Auswahl sowohl bei den Werken als auch bei den Interpreten. Technisch hervorragende Aufnahmen an verschiedenen Orten: Klöster, Kirchen, Konzertsäle etc. in verschiedenen Ländern.

ここAmazonでたまたま見つけて即衝動買いしてしまった。 まずCD60枚で4,300円という衝撃価格に仰天。 それも定評のあるSONYのクラシカル部門が出しているCDなら間違いなかろうと思った。 ヴィヴァルテはソニー・クラシカル内の古楽専門レーベルとのこと。 もともと古楽器による古楽演奏が大好きだったこともありぜひ聴きたくなった。 60枚のうち数枚を試しに聴いてみた。 プロデューサーであるエリクソンの個性なのか、非常にカッチリとした音なのだが同時に瑞々しさもあり、古楽器の素朴な魅力が十二分に伝わって来た。 レオンハルト、クイケン、ビルスマ等の一流演奏家もふんだんに収められており嬉しい限りだ。 まず特筆すべきは音の良さだが、演奏も一流で申し分ない。 また240ページにおよぶ英文ブックレットも大変素晴らしい。 古楽好きには買って得しかない一流CD集だ。

Inutile dilungarsi troppo; come per il primo volume, prezzo eccellente considerando che molti di questi titoli della storica etichetta Vivarte sono fuori catalogo e che quindi, per il prezzo proposto da Amazon, questo é un affarone da cogliere al volo. Guardate quanto costa oggi una copia del Volume I. Comunque, costo a parte, cofanetto da non perdere: qualità artistica 10. Qualità audio 10. Presentazione 10 (é incluso un bel libretto di 240 pagine che riproduce le note descrittive presenti all'epoca delle prime stampe dei titoli presenti). Servizio Amazon al top, come al solito.

Beautiful collection of music. Also very good value for money. I tried to look for Vivarte collection volume one after buying this one but unfortunately difficult to get and very expensive. Vivarte collection volume one sells for as much as £300 now! Don’t miss out as Volume 2 might go the same way in the years to come!

Not as exciting as Sony Vivarte Vol 1 that is out of print, but an excellent buy nevertheless. This is either the new golden age of audio, or a swan song of 20 century enjoyment of music. Both programming and hardware could be obtained at prices never heard before. The world is slowly moving towards always-on streaming and no physical media, and that is perhaps the exact reason to stock up, while we can. The choices are dizzying, this collection is a gem.