Released on the Decca label Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre in 1989, Christophe Coin recorded six sonatas by Vivaldi with the late Christopher Hogwood and friends. Today, the recording's sound quality is comparably good with more recent recordings. The performances lack, perhaps, some of the fury and excitement of more recent recordings of Vivaldi, but I think they're well-done. To compare, I have Jaap ter Linden's reading of this sonata, and really still like this one best.
The opening movement (the sonata is a slow-fast-slow-fast style) is my favorite; I find it comforting and endearing. There's seomthing about that singing cello, with that little slide, over the pulsing base with organ and guitar that is so sweet and special.
I have one special recollection of this piece from my past. Yes, I've lived with it for a long time, probably since 1990. I had made the decision in the fall of my senior year to break-up with someone I was dating. And I was talking to one of my close friends about it on the phone. After I had the difficult conversation, I played this, sitting back, and letting the music lift my mood.
The ter Linden reading with Lars Ulrik Mortensen uses harpsichord and for me is too busy. The cello playing is nice. It's a different reading, but it's almost too fast. On the repeat, ter Linden adds a lot of ornamentation which is nice.