period performance Archive

VIVALDI: The Complete Viola d’Amore Concertos – Rachel Barton Pine, viola d’amore/ Ars Antigua – Cedille

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 13, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

A bold disc and stunning achievement. VIVALDI: The Complete Viola d’Amore Concertos – Rachel Barton Pine, viola d’amore/ Ars Antigua – Cedille CDR 90000 159, 79:11 [Distr. by Naxos] *****: One should never be quick to assume, even in the case of talented and multifaceted artists like Rachel Barton Pine, a transfer to another, even related, instrument will be an automatic success. I remember years ago when viola players were astounded and much put off by the artistry of Pinchas Zukerman on “their” instrument, and there have been other cases of such transferal that were not as demonstrably reliable. Barton Pine has spent a lot of time over the years tinkering with various facets of the period performance genre, so she is no stranger to the type of performance we have here. But the viola d’amore, a tricky instrument born of the viol family with resonating strings yet played under the chin, is not an easy ticket, and Barton Pine has obviously spent a lot of practice time with it. It’s tone, and especially as she produces it, has a gossamer sweep to it, very articulate yet not particularly loud, which might have sounded the death knell for the thing […]