For the finale in Valtice, a Vivaldi feast from Europa Galante

By Frank Kuznik, 20 October 2021

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“Azzolini was a revelation on the bassoon, which he wielded like a rock ’n’ roller”

Reviewed at Valtice Castle Riding Hall, Valtice on 16 October 2021

Vivaldi, Dorilla in Tempe, RV709: Sinfonia in C major

Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in C major, RV 189

Vivaldi, Bassoon Concerto in G minor, RV 496

Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in F major, RV 286 "Per la solennità di San Lorenzo”

Vivaldi, Bajazet (Tamerlano), RV 703: Sinfonia

Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in B flat major, RV 371

Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in B minor, RV 390

Fabio Biondi, Violin, Director

Sergio Azzolini, Bassoon

Europa Galante

Disappointing outing for Scarlatti in the Halle Handel Festival

Sandra Bowdler, 13th June

Scarlatti's oratorio proves a rather disappointing outing for Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante, not helped by the venue's acoustics.

**111

A remarkable rendition of Handel’s Silla at the Enescu Festival

Edward Sava-Segal, 5th September

Europa Galante's musicians’ collective expertise in playing music of the 17th and 18th centuries is indisputable and was in full display once again in Bucharest.

****1

Fabio Biondi's Vivaldi puts Mozart in the shade in LA

Laurence Vittes, 9th January

In Fabio Biondi's hands Vivaldi's big violin concertos clearly surpass Mozart in mature power and beauty and rival Bach in imagination and emotional richness.

*****

Biondi's Baroque adventure: L'Oracolo in Messenia

Charlotte Valori, 20th February

An exceptional mood of teamwork and virtuosity combine to ensure Fabio Biondi's reconstructed pasticcio of Vivaldi's lost L'oracolo in Messenia is an intense, disorientatingly beautiful evening of breathtaking musicianship.

*****

Adriano in Siria in Madrid

Fernando Remiro, 26th January

Interesting rediscovery of Veracini's first opera, composed for mythical castrati Senesino and Farinelly, and brought to life again by Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante.

***11

Europa Galante and the Spanish Baroque revival in Chicago

Kristina Powers, 30th October

Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante – tour de force superstars in the world of historically-informed performance. Ever since I had first purchased their CD of Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico as a youngster, I have been in totally awe of the sheer brilliance of their playing. No longer were the familiar Vivaldi concertos mundane Suzuki student pieces; now they were living, breathing virtuosic showpieces.

*****

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.