Since hearing his Vivaldi release The French Connection - as immediately and thoroughly charming a Vivaldi disc as I've come accross - I've kept my ears peeled for Adrian Chandler's new releases. Not only is his period troupe La Serenissima formidable, Chandler proves particularly adept at mixing and matching works so that sameness and routine never creep in. On Venice by Night, forty minutes of Vivaldi are interspersed with world-premiere recordings of eighteenth-century arias, concertos, and sinfonias by Venetian composers Pollarolo, Veracini, Lotti, and Porta. It's a gorgeous collection marked by gentle sincerity, unobtrusive liveliness, confident calm,a nd accuracy without aggression.
Acclaim
Vivaldi Juxtaposed

Venice by Night
Albinoni, Lotti, Pollafolo, Porta, Veracini, Vivaldi
Mhairi Lawson, soprano
Simon Munday, trumpet
Peter Whelan, bassoon
Adrian Chandler
La Serenissima
(AV 2257)
Avie Records
— Jens Laurson,
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