Vivaldi for Valentines

Vivaldi for Valentines

Another installment in Philips's Set Your Life to Music series (which has included <i>Mozart for Your Mind</i>, <i>Baroque at Bathtime</i>, and <i>Rachmaninoff for Romance</i>, among others), <i>Vivaldi for Valentines</i> is loosely built around the aura of romance that Venice continues to evoke. Vivaldi captured it for all time in his music, inspired by the often melancholy beauty of his native city, one that has been known through the ages as <i>La Serenissima</i>. Along with such ultrafamiliar pieces as the "Winter" largo movement from <i>The Four Seasons</i> (in which the violin sighs a rapturous melody against sounds imitating a crackling, cozy fire) and the Largo of the Guitar Concerto in D--Vivaldi's slow movements, with all their gentle dreaminess, being given the limelight in this compilation--are many gems you've likely not heard before. The list of performers and approaches is too expansive even to mention but predominantly features performances by I Musici. It's hard to believe that Vivaldi's music, having sunk into oblivion, resurfaced again only a few decades ago. This is a pleasant compilation that makes a perfect entrée if you'd like to learn more about classical music--and Vivaldi in particular--than <i>The Four Season</i>. And, as for setting a romantic mood, this will give your mojo all the help it needs. <i>--Thomas May</i>