Hello and welcome to our preview series to get you ready for our upcoming concert cycle, Spring in San Francisco. Up first this week, we will discuss the history of Antonio Vivaldi. Check back in the coming weeks to learn more about the other composers we will feature on the concert like Max Richter, Astor Piazzolla, and our own José Daniel Vargas.
L'estro armonico Op. 3 No. 6 performed by Voices of Music Ensemble
Vivaldi’s life
Born in Venice in 1678, Vivaldi remains a household name in classical music. With nearly 500 surviving concerti, his prolific output helped establish the classical concerto's standard three-movement structure (fast-slow-fast). He revolutionized the genre through his use of the ritornello form and shaped the identity of Italian Baroque music. Beyond his achievements as a composer, he was also a virtuoso violinist and an ordained priest—nicknamed "Il Prete Rosso" (The Red Priest) for his distinctive red hair.
Many of his concerto compositions were written after 1703 when he was appointed as the violin master at the Ospedale della Pietà: a covenant, orphanage, and music school established in the fourteenth century. Here, Vivaldi produced some of his most celebrated works, written for his students to perform—including a collection of trio sonatas and twelve instrumental concerti, L'estro armonico Op. 3 which you are listening to now.
Present day Ospedale della Pietà
While J.S. Bach is often viewed as the foundational source from which all classical composers emerged, Vivaldi stands as one of the few composers who actually influenced Bach himself. Bach transcribed several of Vivaldi's works for different ensembles—a painstaking process in an era of quill and parchment. This dedication shows Bach's deep admiration for Vivaldi, and historians have noted a clear shift in Bach's compositional style following these transcription projects.
When listening to Vivaldi's music, one can easily envision virtuosic soloists dueling on stage. As director of secular music in Mantua between 1718-1720, Vivaldi helped establish Italian opera as a leading force of musical innovation. Through his operatic works, he laid the foundation for a musical tradition that would later flourish with masters like Rossini, Verdi, and Puccini.
For further listening...
Il Giustino, RV 717, Act 1: "Vedrò con mio diletto" (Anastasio)
Vedrò con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia core del mio cor Pien di contento Pien di contento
Vedrò con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia II cor di questo core Pien di contento Pien di contento
E se dal caro oggetto Lungi convien che sia Convien che sia Sospirerò penando Ogni momento
Vedrò con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia core del mio cor Pien di contento Pien di contento
Vedrò con mio diletto L'alma dell'alma mia Dell'alma mia II cor di questo core Pien di contento Pien di contento
| I shall see to my delight The soul of my soul Of my soul The heart of my heart Full of happiness Full of happiness
I shall see to my delight The soul of my soul Of my soul The heart of my heart Full of happiness Full of happiness
And when the beloved Should be far away Should be I will sigh in suffering Every moment
I shall see to my delight The soul of my soul Of my soul The heart of my heart Full of happiness Full of happiness
I shall see to my delight The soul of my soul Of my soul The heart of my heart Full of happiness Full of happiness |
This is one of my favorite arias of all time from the opera Il Giustino. It tells the story of the Goddess of Fortune coming down to visit the peasant Giustino, his rise to lead the Byzantine army, and the emperor Anastasio’s suspicions of him trying to steal his wife and his crown.
Listen for the short, meticulous strokes played by the orchestra that drive the piece forward as the singer’s melody is placed seamlessly on top of it. In the lyricism of Anastasio’s line, we hear a reflection of the pain he feels-- not through articulation but through the large intervalic leaps between the words “pien di contento” as he reaches for his happiness despite his anguish.
Our program features one of Vivaldi's most popular and imaginative musical experiments—a work that brilliantly combines his love of storytelling and drama with his virtuosic concerto writing. "The Four Seasons," his renowned collection of violin concertos, sets poetry to music, creating vivid vignettes of natural scenes. Below, you'll find the poems that inspired the concerto we'll perform in March. Join us to experience how Vivaldi transformed these verses into his beautiful and imaginative music!
I. Allegro
Festive Spring has arrived,
The birds salute it with their happy song.
And the brooks, caressed by little Zephyrs,
Flow with a sweet murmur.
The sky is covered with a black mantle,
And thunder, and lightning, announce a storm.
When they are silent, the birds
Return to sing their lovely song.
II. Largo e pianissimo sempre
And in the meadow, rich with flowers,
To the sweet murmur of leaves and plants,
The goatherd sleeps, with his faithful dog at his side.
III. Danza pastorale. Allegro
To the festive sound of pastoral bagpipes,
Dance nymphs and shepherds,
At Spring's brilliant appearance.
Spring in San Francisco
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Our general admission sale is currently underway for our next concert series in San Francisco. You can now reserve a seat at any of our upcoming concerts for as little as $5*!
See you soon!
Leah Froyd
Cofounder of Insight Chamber Players
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