The Italian Armonie Symphony Orchestra performs the music of Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi with refreshing passion and authenticity in Vivaldi - The Best of Classical Music, part of a series of recordings dedicated to individual classical composers.

Often called the "Red Priest," the extremely influential Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi is perhaps best known for his set of four violin concerti published in 1725 entitled "The Four Seasons." These works, as well as the concerto for bassoon and concerto for oboe also featured on this recording, were most likely written for an orchestra comprised of orphaned girls and young women for whom Vivaldi served as music director in the early 18th century.

The Armonie Symphony Orchestra capture beautifully the simplicity and passion that the image of an orchestra made up solely of disenfranchised and highly skilled young musicians conjures. The Largo movement of Violin Concerto No. 1 ( The Four Seasons, no. 1 - Largo ), for example, is performed with almost unbearable tenderness, while the orchestra shreds with vicious passion through the third movement of Violin Concerto No. 2, marked Presto ( Concerto no. 2 in G Minor - Presto ).

"The Four Seasons" are bookended by the deliciously rich and sensuous bassoon concerto in the opening three tracks, and the dramatic minor-key oboe concerto in the final three tracks. In total, Vivaldi - The Best of Classical Music offers a selection of works that are thoroughly Baroque in their ability to entertain as well as emote -- an ability evidenced today in any number of film soundtracks -- with performances that provide stimulating accompaniment for daily life.

Additional Tracks:
Concerto For Bassoon and Orchestra in B Major - La
Concerto For Oboe and String Orchestra in A Minor