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Donald Macleod introduces music from two of Vivaldi's earliest successful operatic productions which opened up new job opportunities outside of Venice.
Vivaldi took over the running of the small Venetian theatre of San Angelo, firstly producing works by other composers, but in the 1714-15 season, he made his own operatic debut in Venice there. Vivaldi was soon in demand at another theatre, placing him in a very powerful position within Venice's operatic life. New opportunities opened up beyond the shores of the Republic and, in 1718, Vivaldi travelled to the court of Mantua where he took up the position of music director. There he was able to take full advantage of the court orchestra with its rich variety of instruments.

Donald Macleod introduces music from two of the operas which helped establish his reputation, a dramatic solo cantata typical of the kind of thing Vivaldi composed for singers to perform during the long operatic off-season, and an example of a chamber concerto that may have been intended for the virtuoso members of the Mantuan court orchestra.