Vivaldi’s music has been played around the world for hundreds of years, and yet still I am astounded with the beauty and technical proficiency required by musicians to truly make this music jump off the page. And it certainly jumps off the page in this exciting new recording by Croatian-born violinist Bojan Čičić and his Illyria Consort.

The album comprises two violin concertos by Vivaldi, and one each from Tartini and Locatelli. Comparing these particular concertos to fireworks is not far off the mark. The explosions of sound, with moments of rest and breath interspersed between them, show the bright colours of music in the same way fireworks parade their colours visually. Vivaldi was, of course, known for his musical virtuosity and composition, and his wild improvised cadenzas are the stuff of legend. His students actually transcribed some of the cadenzas in an effort to learn from his genius. Lucky they did as it means we now get to appreciate the raw beauty of one of the most popular composers of all time in Western Art Music. Vivaldi was a superstar in his time, and these concertos are all about showcasing the soloist, and Čičić does a terrific job leading these musical fireworks.

Kate Rockstrom is a friend of Readings.