Sandrine Piau: Vivaldi! (2010)

C. MICHAEL BAILEY,

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: August 30, 2010

Track review of "Laudate Pueri Dominum, RV 601, Gloria Patri et Filio"

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was best known for his many string and reed concertos, and opera seria. The composer also had an impressive catalog of sacred pieces, including his famous Gloria, RV 589. Among his sacred music, Vivaldi composed several settings for the text of Psalm 112, and The Glory be from Vivaldi's setting of Psalm 112 Laudate Pueri Dominum ("Praise the Lord, ye children").

As part of these pieces, Vivaldi cast the Gloria Patri ("Glory Be To The Father"). French Renaissance and Baroque specialist Sandrine Piau gives a creamy performance, employing all aspects of her rich and broadly balanced soprano. She shines on slower pieces such as this proving that Emma Kirkby and mezzo Magdalena Kožená are not the only voices in period music to hear.

The period instruments of Accademia Bizantina are warmly captured sonically, an improvement in the art since its rise in the late 1980s. Paiu and company are unsurpassed in Vivaldi, Handel, and Bach.

Personnel: Sadrine Piau: soprano voice; Ottavio Dantone: Conductor, Accademia Bizantina.

Record Label: Naive Records