Vivaldi: Flute Concertos

Here is the second volume in Naxos's series of Vivaldi flute concertos, elegantly and warmly played by the suave Béla Drahos and his modern-instrument Sinfonia. A bargain at less than $6? Well, this can certainly while away an hour or so pleasantly, especially with such gems as the darkly mysterious G-minor Concerto "La notte" and the D-major "Il gardellino," which finds Drahos imitating the goldfinch of the title to great effect. And, on the whole, he seems unfazed by the technical fireworks Vivaldi unkindly throws at his instrument.

Indeed, the only thing missing is a sense of strongly characterized interpretation. Unless you're a diehard fan of the flute, this disc is probably best listened to one concerto at a time. Speeds tend to be middle of the road (the final movement of the C-minor Concerto would be more dramatic at a faster tempo; the slow movement of the G-minor, Op. 10 No. 2, is too slow), as do the performances themselves. But the CD's a safe bet for those who have yet to succumb to the Baroque's allure. --Harriet Smith