Francesco Geminiani - La Foresta Incantata

This is probably the best release of “La Foresta Incantata” you will ever find. What’s more, I consider this LP one of the best recordings in all of baroque. A bold claim, yes.

I’m not saying this because I’m so good at LP conversion – far from it. I have a lot to learn in that respect. Nor am I saying this because audiophiles will tell you LPs have a greater range in herz, or whatever, than CDs; that may be so, I don’t know.

No, it’s because Scimone’s interpretation of this piece and the performance of the Solisti Veneti far outshines the five or six other recordings I’ve heard. Nowhere you’ll hear the dramatic force of the overtures to both sides of the LP so beautifully rendered. No gayish tingle-tangle baroque, but full-blown drama; those first minutes have an enormous impact, as they are supposed to have. Too often these overtures are played way too fast to my liking.
Not here, fortunately. What you’re going to hear will tear your heart out.

Further, you will look in vain for anything remotely similar to the “Celestial Trumpets Calling” (my words) as they act in this release. Sheer bliss and glory – how they sing the praise of all things living!

As for the coverart: I whitened it a bit. I suppose you won’t be interested to see what years of tobacco clouds did to the original colours.