Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Episode 1 of 5: The Pieta

Donald Macleod introduces the life and music of the Venetian priest, feted in his lifetime as [bad word] and violinist, yet destined to die in obscurity in faraway Vienna.

Antonio Vivaldi's name is now inextricably linked with Venice's charitable institution the Ospedale della Pietà, where the female residents benefitted from his skills [bad word]  violinist, teacher and impresario. As a boy, Vivaldi was taught by his father, inheriting both his red hair and his skill as a violinist. Young Antonio was soon to be seen deputising for his father in the orchestra of the Basilica of St. Mark's. As the eldest son in a poor family, Vivaldi was destined for the priesthood, and he was ordained in [bad word] the careers of musician and priest wasn't unusual at the time, and that same year Vivaldi was appointed violin teacher at the Pietà. Donald Macleod presents a selection of music Vivaldi wrote specially tailored to display the dazzling array of talents offered by the girls of the Pietà including an ensemble concerto for two recorders, two oboes, bassoon and two violins. He also introduces a concerto from Vivaldi's op.3 - the first collection to make his name outside Italy and regarded as the most influential music publication of the first half of the eighteenth century.

00:00
Antonio Vivaldi
Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernes barbarie RV.645
Performer: The King's Consort.
Singer: María Cristina Kiehr.
Singer: Jean Rigby.
Singer: Ann Murray.
Singer: Sarah Connolly.
Performer: King's Consort Choir.
Director: Robert King.
Singer: Susan Bickley.

00:06
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in minor RV.565, Op.3`11 for 2 violins, cello and orchestra
Performer: Raffaello Negri.
Ensemble: Europa Galante.
Performer: Maurizio Naddeo.
Director: Fabio Biondi.

00:18
Antonio Vivaldi
Sonata in major RV.2 for violin and continuo
Performer: Richard Tunnicliffe.
Performer: Elizabeth Wallfisch.
Performer: Malcolm Proud.

00:29
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in minor RV.566 for 7 [bad word] and orchestra
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

00:40
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in minor RV.129 (Concerto madrigalesco) for string orchestra
Ensemble: Florilegium Ensemble.

00:45
Antonio Vivaldi
Magnificat in minor RV.610a for SSSAT soli, 2 chors, 2 ob, str & bc
Performer: The King's Consort.
Singer: Lisa Milne.
Performer: King's Consort Choristers.
Singer: Susan Gritton.
Singer: Lynton Atkinson.
Singer: Lynton Atkinson.
Performer: King's Consort Choir.
Performer: King's Consort Choir.
Director: Robert King.
Director: Robert King.
Singer: Catherine Denley.
Singer: Catherine Denley.

First broadcast: 22 Dec 2014 (b04vd0tz)
 [bad word]  [bad word] wall-71199334_26