Today happens to be Antonio Vivaldi's 325th birthday, so it seems reasonable to make a recommendation.
L'estro armonico was Vivaldi's first collection of published concertos an are, compared with later pieces, unrefined. The lack of refinement is completely overshadowed by sheer variety and exuberance.
The Concerto Grosso Op. 3 Number 11 in D minor was my first introduction to Vivaldi in a concerthall (the concert was on his birthday) and is still one of my favorite pieces of music. It turns out that I was plowing through Volume 1 of The Norton Scores at the same time and this was one of the first pieces of classical music where I had spent serious time with the score. (this was a long time ago - the $4.95 price tag on volume 1 is still on the book).
Thanks to the Vivaldi revival of a few decades back there is an excellent selection of recordings and I will admit to owning a half dozen. So what to recommend?
At first I am tempted to recommend the I Musici or Virtuosi di Roma versions (probably favoring I Musici) and will go with those recommendations if you are unfamiliar with the music.
If this is a familiar path I suggest a two CD set with Babio Biondi and Europa Galante. It isn't perfect (this is clearly a poor selection if you are looking for a historical performance on period instruments and Biondi's playing seems wrong at times), but it is one of those performances that builds on your experience with the music and gives terrific pleasure. The tempos seem perfect and the continuo group is remarkable. It makes you wish that I Musici had heard them in concert.
One of the great joys of classical music in in the discovery of interpretations.
7:51:30 AM 
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