June 2006
Early Music Review
Vivaldi: Sinfonie d'opera
This recording arrived with all matter of publicity as if it were the first ever recording of this repertoire on period instruments. Whatever the hype about I Virtuosi delle Muse, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed their renderings of 11 sinfonie. They are dramatic and well executed, if not over the top, like some italian recordings I've had to suffer! The sound of the band varies from track to track, to suit the music (and, suggests the booklet, the theme of the opera with which each is associated, though I take that with a large pinch of salt). Clearly, I Virtuosi delle Muse are a group to watch, and Divox Antiqua should be justly happy to have signed them up.
BC