Since the release of her spectacular set of Vivaldi's La Stravaganza concertos back in 2003, Rachel Podger's recording agenda has been focused on music by Mozart and Bach. This release of the La Cetra concertos marks her very welcome return to music by Venetian maestro, a composer with whom the violinist has a clear affinity. As with La Stravaganza, there are many jewels in this set, some of which place even higher technical demands on the soloist. Several of the concertos also include fascinating and exotic experimental effects. Podger is supported here by the young and energetic Holland Baroque Society, whose innovative performance style and keen scholarship makes them a perfect partner in this repertoire. Bringing together some of Vivaldi's best music, played by some of the world's finest performers, this Channel Classics disc offers listeners a joyful, energetic and inspiring musical experience.

Mozart s Duos for violin and viola are perennial favorites, both to the musicians that play them but also to audiences lucky enough to hear them in concert. These works never cease to amaze Mozart uses the two instruments so effectively and with such exquisite craftsmanship that he never leaves one wondering where the rest of the string quartet might have gone. The virtuosity of the viola parts hints that they may have been originally written for Mozart himself. They are paired here with less well-known but very charming Duos by Michael Haydn. The character of these pieces is often reminiscent of Austrian folk music and it really seems as if you can hear yodeling bouncing off the mountains in timely echoes. Violinist Rachel Podger is joined by violist Jane Rogers for this gorgeous recording of rarely heard chamber music.

Tracks: 1. Westward Across the Prairie Into a Dream 2. Roaring Judy 3. El Dorado 4. Jokerville 5. The Sound of Fish Dreaming 6. Big Horn Balloon 7. Elk Avenue 8. Jack's Cabin Cutoff 9. Donita's 10. For the Children 11. Two Coyotes Say Goodbye in Cement Creek Canyon

Live at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, WI! Tracks: (Disc 1) 1. JD Meets the Rhythm Section 2. Summertime 3. Crisis 4. Capricious 5. Greensleeves (Disc 2) 1. Moanin' 2. Subterranean Blues 3. Just Chillin' 4. Fourth Dimension 5. Blues March