Cello Concertos In C RV400 • C Minor RV401 • B Minor RV424 / Concerto In G Minor For Two Cellos RV531 / Concerto In C For Violin And Two Cellos RV561

Released in 1981 on the EMI label, this recording brings together a selection of Vivaldi's cello concertos, showcasing the virtuosic range of the instrument within the Baroque tradition. The sessions featured the celebrated French cellist Paul Tortelier alongside his daughter, Maud Tortelier, and Jacques-Francis Manzone, supported by the London Mozart Players under the direction of Philip Ledger. This collection highlights Vivaldi’s innovative approach to cello scoring, particularly in the multi-cello works where the interplay between the soloists drives the harmonic and melodic tension.

The production reflects the scholarly yet accessible approach to early music performance prevalent in the late 20th century. By pairing the elder Tortelier—a master of the cello whose career spanned mid-century interpretative traditions—with his family and the London Mozart Players, the recording achieved a balance of authoritative technique and familial rapport. Upon its release, it was regarded as a technically precise addition to the Vivaldi discography, praised for its clarity and the nuanced, lyrical phrasing that characterized Paul Tortelier’s signature style.