The Avison Ensemble - Vivaldi: Concerti Opus 8 - Early Music Review

Vivaldi's Op. 8 set of twelve concertos begins with The Four Seasons, but it is good to have the complete set of violin concertos in one box.  On disc 1, the Seasons are followed by the excitingly evocative Il Tempesta di Mare and the pleasing Il Piacere featuring Pavlo Beznosiuk's virtuoso playing, while the second disc contains some of the less familiar concertos - all (except for La Caccia) without programmatic context - which contain some of the finest music of the Op. 8 set.  Continuo is varied: Beznosiuk uses archlute or baroque guitar, harpsichord or organ in different concertos.  The booklet has some useful brief notes and the complete texts of 'The Seasons', though it is pity that it is printed white on green paper - not the best for those with eye problems.