La Serenissima success showcased at Audio Classique

Camilla spent yesterday at the second Audio Classique conference, held in Bruges, taking part in a panel discussion hosted by Martin Cullingford, Editor of Gramophone. Her fellow speakers were Sean Hickey, Managing Director of Pentatone and Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3. The subject of the discussion was ‘What does the word ‘recording’ mean in 2024?’.

The invitation to speak really highlights the amazing success that LS has achieved in the field of recording, notably in streaming. We recognise that this success has been made possible through the generosity of our supporters – individuals who have put their faith for our work and music into action. We are enormously grateful for this.

Vivaldi Opus 8 Vol 1: Track Sponsors needed!

It feels like the right moment to trumpet plans for La Serenissima’s landmark 30^th Anniversary recording of Vivaldi’s Opus 8 to be released in 2025 to coincide with the 300^th Anniversary of the Amsterdam publication. The Opus 8 is Vivaldi at his programmatic best, with The Four Seasons making up the first four works in the publication, alongside violin concertos entitled La Tempesta di Mare (‘Storm at Sea’) and Piacere (‘Pleasure’) amongst others. 

The whole Opus 8 venture will cost at least £50,000 to record and release: donations are needed NOW to support post-production of Vol 1 and to help us prepare for Vol 2 (due to be recorded in October).

This album will build on the success of our 2015 recording of the ‘Manchester’ version of The Four Seasons, present new programmatic works to our wider global following (particularly important for attracting new listeners) and fittingly enable La Serenissima to record our definitive version of Vivaldi’s masterpiece in our 30^th Anniversary – these albums represent an important part of our legacy

We hope you will want to see your name listed in these high-profile releases.

The release will feature the following concertos:
Concerto I: La Primavera in E, RV 269
Concerto II: L’Estate in g, RV 315
Concerto III: L’Autunno in F, RV 293
Concerto IV: L’Inverno in f, RV 297
Concerto V La Tempesta di Mare in E flat, RV 253
Concerto VI Il Piacere in C, RV 180
Concerto VII alternative first movement fatto per Monsieur Pisendel for violin, strings & continuo in d, RV 242
Concerto for violin, strings & continuo in C, RV 170
Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in E flat, RV 515

Please write to Camilla with expressions of interest, to pledge or donate at Camilla@laserenissima.co.uk or donate directly via BACS or the website.We are ideally looking for an Album Sponsor for Volume 1 (£10,000+); 8 Concerto Sponsors (£2,000 for 3 tracks) or individual Track Sponsors (£1,000 per track). However, this is not an exact science!

Meanwhile… latest release Diavolo has been winning fans for Tartini.The album has had nearly 200,000 streams; made it into the specialist Classical Charts; and you may have seen one or two of the cracking reviews that have been coming out. 

“…such is Chandler’s long-honed expertise in the Italian repertoire that he’s the ideal guide” BBC Music Magazine

“He’s a violinist-shaped tornado” Gramophone

We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in May in London or Gloucestershire where we will be performing with Italian mandolin virtuoso Raffaele La Ragione:

7:30pm, Thursday 23rd May at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London

6:30pm, Friday 24th May at St Peter and St Paul Church, Northleach, Gloucestershire

Thanks always for your generous support, 

Camilla & Adrian