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Donald Macleod introduces two notorious events: the Venetian debut of the singer with whom Vivaldi became infamously associated, and the publication of The Four Seasons.

Donald Macleod introduces two notorious events: the Venetian debut of the singer with whom Vivaldi became infamously associated, and the publication of The Four Seasons.

1725 was an important year for Vivaldi. He once again took over running the San Angelo Theatre in Venice where he oversaw the debut of a young singer whose name was to become inextricably, and rather scandalously, linked with his. At the same time, his collection of concertos entitled Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione was published. It contained a set of 4 concertos known collectively as The Four Seasons, destined to become one of the most popular works of all time. The set were particularly fashionable in Paris where the young Louis XV insisted upon a command performance of the Spring Concerto at Versailles. Alongside the concerto, which famously evokes the icy blasts of winter, Donald Macleod introduces part of a grand serenata Vivaldi composed as a paean of praise to France, a sonata for cello - an instrument for which Vivaldi had a particular empathy, and an excerpt from one of the operas in which Vivaldi's prot茅g茅, Anna Giraud, first tread the boards at the San Angelo Theatre.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Nicolas Ch茅deville

    Le Printems ou les saisons amusantes

    Ensemble: Palladian Ensemble. Performer: Richard Egarr.
    • LINN RECORDS : CKD-070.
    • LINN RECORDS.
    • 1.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    La Sena festeggiante - serenata RV.693

    Singer: Andrew Foster-Williams. Ensemble: The King鈥檚 Consort. Singer: Carolyn Sampson. Singer: Hilary Summers. Director: Robert King.
    • HYPERION : CDA 67361-2.
    • HYPERION.
    • 4.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Sonata in B flat major RV.46 for cello and continuo [6 sonatas, no.6]

    Performer: Sebastian Hess. Performer: Axel Wolf.
    • OEHMS OC881.
    • OEHMS.
    • 21.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Orlando [furioso] - opera RV.728

    Ensemble: Ensemble Matheus. Singer: Philippe Jaroussky. Conductor: Jean鈥怌hristophe Spinosi.
    • NAIVE RECORDS : OP-30393.
    • NAIVE RECORDS.
    • 24.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in F minor RV.297, Op.8`4 (L'Inverno) for violin and orchestra

    Ensemble: Avison Ensemble. Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk.
    • LINN : CKD-365.
    • LINN.
    • 10.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Orlando furioso - opera RV Anh.84

    Ensemble: Ensemble Matheus. Conductor: Jean鈥怌hristophe Spinosi.
    • NAIVE RECORDS : OP-30393.
    • NAIVE RECORDS.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Christmas Day 2014 12:00

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