![]() For further variety, keyboardist David Schrader plays chamber organ rather than harpsichord in the motets, which were intended for church performances. The first cantata, “All’ombra di sospetto,” RV178, features flute while the second cantata, “Lungi dal vago volto,” RV680, features violin. The first motet is characterized by a pure, angelic soprano sound, while the second is darker, moodier. Variety was the goal even among the selection of vocal pieces the sacred motets exhibit a relatively simple vocal style, while the cantatas on the theme of romantic love allow for a more freely expressive vocalism. This variety is a truer reflection of what a concert in Vivaldi’s day would have sounded like - and how the Chicago Baroque Ensemble programs its concerts - compared to today’s typically homogeneous concert programs, according to the ensemble’s artistic director John Mark Rozendaal, who also wrote the CD booklet notes. “We looked at all approaches to programming Vivaldi on disc and took the one less traveled by,” said Cedille producer James Ginsburg, paraphrasing a Robert Frost poem, “And that makes all the difference.” The program of motets, concertos, cantatas and sonata unfolds through a symmetrical sequence of varied musical textures, moods, and instrumentation for and entertaining (and generous) 78-plus minutes of music. It’s an invigoratingly diverse program of Vivaldi’s vocal and instrumental works, none of them over-recorded. Vivaldi recordings, though voluminous, comprise many predictable collections of similar works - flute concertos, violin concerto, and so forth.Ī Vivaldi Concert, performed by the Chicago Baroque Ensemble with guest artist Patrice Michaels, soprano, opens a unique vista on the Venetian composer. Forgotten works by Vivaldi continue to appear from time to time, most recently in 20.When people think of Vivaldi, they think of concertos, which represent only about half of his nearly 800 compositions. He would be virtually ignored until after 1926, when a large cache of original manuscripts was discovered (including his now-beloved Four Seasons). Stephen’s Cathedral, where Vivaldi’s funeral was conducted.Īt the time of his death, Vivaldi’s music was already falling out of favor and few of his compositions were available. In a curious coincidence that illustrates the intertwined relationships throughout the baroque world, a young Franz Joseph Hayden was at this time a choir boy at St. It is thought that he may have hoped to gain a position with the Austrian court, but seems to have found no success. Vivaldi’s influence may have helped to lighten the darker aspects of the northern European baroque by infusing it with a joyful, Mediterranean tone. Although Vivaldi remained with the Ospedale through virtually his entire life, his music became known throughout Europe. He also composed some 40 operas, not for the school, but for public performance in Venice. Vivaldi wrote over 500 instrumental concertos and sacred choral works. Under his tenure, the Ospedale’s choir and orchestra built a strong reputation. He proved himself to be indispensable to the school, and was given the position of maestro di concerti in 1716. Vivaldi was tasked with composing new works for every major church feast, as well as teaching music and voice, and instructing the girls to play various instruments. Starting as a teacher in 1703, Vivaldi had as his pupils the girls at the Ospedale, for whom music was a key part of their curriculum. Vivaldi spent most of his career at a single institution – the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for the illegitimate children of Venetian noblemen and courtiers. At the age of 15, he began to study for the priesthood, and was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1703. He studied music as a child with his father, a violinist. NICHOLAS McGEGAN, MUSIC DIRECTOR LAUREATEīorn in 1678, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi is closely associated with his native city of Venice.VALÉRIE SAINTE-AGATHE, CHORALE DIRECTOR. ![]() *NEW!* Coffee & Cake: Bach’s Brandenburgs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |