Since hearing Adrian Chandler’s Vivaldi release “The French Connection” ("Best of 2009 Almost List") – as immediately and thoroughly charming a Vivaldi disc as I’ve come across –I’m keeping my ears peeled for his 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 are never tempted to creep in. On “Venice by Night”, forty minutes of Vivaldi are interspersed with 18th world premiere recordings of 18th century arias, concertos, and sinfonias of Venetian composers Pollarolo, Veracini, Lotti, and Porta: A gorgeous collection marked by gentle sincerity, accuracy without aggression, unobtrusive liveliness, and confident calm.
