A fitting celebration of a landmark Vivaldi publication
The Strad Issue: February 2026
Description: A fitting celebration of a landmark Vivaldi publication
Musicians: La Serenissima/Adrian Chandler (violin)
Works: Vivaldi: Violin Concertos op.8 vol.2: no.7 in D minor, no.8 in G minor, no.9 in D minor, no.10 in B flat major ‘La caccia’, no.11 in D major, no.12 in C major; Violin Concerto in G minor RV155; Concerto in D major for two violins RV512
Catalogue number: SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD 919
La Serenissima’s second volume of Vivaldi’s op.8 Concertos completes its celebration of the 300th-anniversary of this collection’s publication. Adrian Chandler wears his virtuosity lightly, fronting performances which are full of perception, imagination, clarity and vitality. His technical dexterity is especially striking in fast movements such as the opening Allegros of nos.10 and 11 and in his negotiation of the two cadenza-like pedal points in no.8’s finale.
He conveys the slow movements with shapely phrasing, flowing lyricism, subtle expression and imaginative, tasteful ornamentation, especially in the repeated sections of binary structures such as no.12’s melancholy Largo and no.10’s intimate Adagio.
Two concertante works foreign to op.8 are included as makeweights: the ripieno-solo concerto hybrid RV155, in which the first two purely orchestral movements contrast with the final two featuring Chandler as eloquent soloist; and the quasi-galant RV512 for two violins, in which Oliver Cave interacts seamlessly with Chandler either in short answering phrases or mellifluous parallel motion.
Tempos are judiciously calculated, tone is finely blended, intonation is largely secure and the continuo players’ enterprising contributions are sensitively discreet. Sharper dynamic contrasts would have been welcomed, but the recording is clear, resonant and carefully balanced.
ROBIN STOWELL
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