A new, extended, improved and upgraded Vivaldi Edition! The master of Italian Baroque music is indisputably Antonio Vivaldi. Throughout his life, he composed hundreds of works, and is remembered perhaps second only to J.S. Bach, ranking as one of the most popular composers of all time. His oeuvre crosses an extraordinarily wide range, from instrumental compositions of all types to sacred cantatas and operatic works, a vast number of which are presented in this comprehensive box set. Vivaldi was a divisive figure during his lifetime, well known for being vain and conceited. His vanity, though, is certainly deserved; we are left with the overwhelming evidence. More than 50 operas (21 of which survive), 500 concertos and 90 sonatas are no mean feat for a man who by all accounts was also a superb teacher and virtuosic violinist. This release draws attention to the diversity of his oeuvre, starting with his instrumental music and moving on to feature his sacred cantatas and operas. It is the most comprehensive edition of Vivaldis music yet, bringing together 66 CDs showcasing hundreds of different performers and ensembles, many of them performing on period instruments as they strive to recreate the sound of the composers timbre through their research-led contemporaneous playing styles. The complete Opus number 1-12 are newly recorded by LArte delArco, led by the eminent Federico Guglielmo (with numerous record awards to his name), a new recording of the complete Oboe Concertos, Juditha triumphans by Modo Antiquo/Sardelli, the famous Gloria by the Virtuosi Saxoniae, and new recordings by Early Music specialists Stefano Bagliano, Paolo Pollastri, Lorenzo Cavasanti. Brilliant Classics is proud to offer a new release to add to its growing collection of authoritative composer editions. An excellent gift idea for any lover of Baroque, it spans the length of Vivaldis illustrious career, and celebrates the best of his innovative and beautiful music. Performers include Federico Guglielmo Jaap ter Linden Federico Maria Sardelli Rinaldo Alessandrini Pieter Jan Leusink LArte dellArco Modo Antiquo Concerto Italiano Netherlands Bach Collegium Collegium Pro Musica Other information: Formed of 66 CDs Featuring a variety of acclaimed performers and ensembles Contains extensive notes on Vivaldi