Antonio Vivaldi Composer



Visiting Vivaldi

More than 50 authentic sacred vocal compositions by Vivaldi are extant. They range from short hymns for solo voices to oratorios and elaborate psalm settings in several movements for double choir and orchestra. Many of them exhibit a spiritual depth and a command of counterpoint equal to the best of. Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 to a poor family in Venice, Italy. His father, Giovanni Battista, was a violinist at the Basilica of St. Mark and was most likely Antonio's primary music. Vivaldi’s most famous surviving letter, the one in which, four years before his death in 1741, the composer mounts a defence of his artistic and moral reputation, is viewable only on the rare occasions when it is held in auction rooms prior to sale. Facts about Antonio Vivaldi 5: the music. His music was in the darkness after his death. But in the 20th century, his music came into the light. Now he is considered as one of the most popular baroque composers in the world. Some people consider Vivaldi as the second greatest composers after Johann Sebastian Bach. The creator of hundreds of spirited, extroverted instrumental works, Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi is widely recognized as the master of the Baroque instrumental concerto, which he perfected and popularized more than any of his contemporaries. Vivaldi's kinetic rhythms, fluid melodies, bright instrumental effects, and extensions of instrumental technique make his some of the most enjoyable.

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) spent most of his life in Venice. He was a true violin virtuoso who made his career teaching orphaned girls at La Pieta, one of Venice’s orphanages. Visiting Venice today, you can hardly cross a canal without seeing posters advertising performances of his music. Where did he die? Most people would never guess he passed away in Vienna.

Some Historical Vivaldi Sites in Venice

La Pieta Church. Along the Riva degli Shiavoni is the church that was connected with the La Pieta Orphanage. Vivaldi and his students performed here many times. The picture shows a golden screen behind which the girls, in order to be protected and kept anonymous, performed.

Vivaldi Music Free

Vivaldi Museum. This is a small, private museum, and one needs to make a reservation to see it. Some of the memorabilia is very interesting.

Concerts of Vivaldi’s Music. Venice abounds with performances of Vivaldi’s music, especially “The Four Seasons”. But the trick is to know which concerts are of much higher quality than the rest. Let Dr. Nelson choose, and you will be in good shape!

Some Historical Vivaldi Sites in Vienna

Site of Vivaldi’s death. Vivaldi died in a small house that was where the Sacher Hotel is today, right behind the opera house. More specifically, the house was where the Sacher Gift Shop is. There is a “Music Mile Star” in the Kaerntnerstrasse commemorating the composer.

Site of Vivaldi’s Cemetery. Vivaldi was buried in a cemetery that stood where Vienna Technical University in Karlsplatz is today. It is not believed that Vivaldi’s remains were kept when the university was built on that site.

Antonio Vivaldi Composer

Antonio Vivaldi Baroque Composer

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Antonio Vivaldi Composer

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer)
Works

Below is a list of Antonio Vivaldi's works, from his many concerti to his sacred vocal works. While the list is not a complete listing of all of Vivaldi's works, these lists contain many known compositions, including publications during his lifetime.

Works published during his lifetime

Op. 1, twelve sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (1705)
Op. 2, twelve sonatas for violin and basso continuo (1709)
Op. 3, L'estro armonico (Harmonic inspiration), twelve concerti for various combinations. Best known concerti are No. 6 in A minor for violin, No. 8 in A minor for two violins and No. 10 in B minor for four violins (1711)
Op. 4, La stravaganza (The extraordinary), twelve violin concerti (c1714)
Opus 5, (second part of Opus 2), four sonatas for violin and two sonatas for two violins and basso continuo (1716)
Op. 6, six violin concerti (1716–21)
Op. 7, two oboe concerti and 10 violin concerti (1716–1717)
Op. 8, Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Contest between Harmony and Invention), twelve violin concerti including the celebrated work, Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons), consisting of the first four concerti in opus 8 (1723)
Op. 9, La cetra (The lyre), twelve violin concerti and one for two violins (1727)
Op. 10, six flute concertos (c. 1728)
Opus 11, five violin concerti, one oboe concerto, the second in E minor, RV 277, being known as 'Il favorito' (1729)
Op. 12, five violin concerti and one without solo (1729)
Op. 13, Il pastor fido (The Faithful Shepherd), six sonatas for musette, viela, recorder, flute, oboe or violin, and basso continuo (1737, spurious works by Nicolas Chédeville).

Operas

1713: Ottone in villa, RV 729, Libretto: Domenico Lalli (Vicenza, Teatro di Piazza)
1714: Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727, Libretto: Grazio Braccioli (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1715: Nerone fatto Cesare, RV 724, Libretto: Matteo Noris (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo) [pasticcio (Francesco Gasparini, Giuseppe Maria Orlandini, Carlo Francesco Pollarolo, Vivaldi)]
1716: La costanza trionfante degl'amori e de gl'odii, RV 706, Libretto: Antonio Marchi (Venice, Teatro San Moisè) [reworked as Artabano, re dei Parti (RV 701) in 1718, then as Doriclea (RV 708) in 1732]
1716: Arsilda, regina di Ponto, RV 700, Libretto: Domenico Lalli (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1717: L'incoronazione di Dario, RV 719, Libretto: Adriano Morselli (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1717: Tieteberga, RV 737, Libretto: Antonio Maria Lucchini (Venice, Teatro San Moisè)
1717: Il vinto trionfante del vincitore, RV Anh 58, Libretto: Antonio Marchi (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo) [pasticcio, possibly with some music by Vivaldi]
1718: Artabano, re dei Parti, RV 701, Libretto: Antonio Marchi (Venice, Teatro San Moisè) [reworking of La costanza trionfante (RV 706)]
1718: Armida al campo d'Egitto, RV 699, Libretto: Giovanni Palazzi (Venice, Teatro San Moisè. Further performances in Venice on December 26, 1730 and February 12, 1738.) [reworked as Gl’inganni per vendetta (RV 720) in 1720]
1718: Scanderbeg, RV 732, Libretto: Antonio Salvi (Florence, Teatro della Pergola)
1718: Teuzzone, RV 736, Libretto: Apostolo Zeno (Mantua, Teatro Arciducale)
1719: Tito Manlio, RV 738, Libretto: Matteo Noris (Mantua, Teatro Arciducale)
1720: La Candace, o siano Li veri amici, RV 704, Libretto: Francesco Silvani & Domenico Lalli (Mantua, Teatro Arciducale)
1718: Gl’inganni per vendetta, RV 720, Libretto: Giovanni Palazzi (Venice, Teatro San Moisè) [reworking of Armida al campo d’Egitto (RV 699)]
1720: La verità in cimento, RV 739, Libretto: Giovanni Palazzi (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1720: Filippo re di Macedonia, RV 715, Libretto: Domenico Lalli (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo) [pasticcio]
1721: La Silvia, RV 734, Libretto: Enrico Bissari (Milan, Reggio Ducale)
1723: Ercole su'l Termodonte, RV 710, Libretto: Giacomo Francesco Bussani (Rome, Teatro Capranica)
1724: Giustino, RV 717, Libretto: Nicolò Beregan/Pietro Pariati (Rome, Teatro Capranica)
1724: La virtù trionfante dell’amore, e dell’odio, overo Il Tigrane, RV 740, Libretto: Francesco Silvani (Rome, Teatro Capranica) [pasticcio (only Act II by Vivaldi)]
1725: L’inganno trionfante in amore, RV 721, Libretto: Matteo Noris (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1726: Cunegonda, RV 707, Libretto: Agostino Piovene (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1726: La fede tradita e vendicata, RV 712, Libretto: Francesco Silvani (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1726: La tirannia castigata, RV Anh 55, Libretto: Francesco Silvani (Prague, Sporck Theater)
1726: Dorilla in Tempe, RV 709, Libretto: Antonio Maria Lucchini (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo [pasticcio]
1727: Ipermestra, RV 722, Libretto: Antonio Salvi (Florence, Teatro della Pergola)
1727: Farnace, RV 711, Libretto: Antonio Maria Lucchini (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1727: Siroe, re di Persia, RV 735, Libretto: Pietro Metastasio (Reggio, Teatro Pubblico)
1727: Orlando furioso, RV 728, Libretto: Grazio Braccioli (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1728: Rosilena ed Oronta, RV 730, Libretto: Giovanni Palazzi (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1728: L'Atenaide, RV 702, Libretto: Apostolo Zeno (Florence, Teatro della Pergola, December 29)
1730: Argippo, RV 697, Libretto: Domenico Lalli (Prague, Sporck Theater) [seven arias were rediscovered in Regensburg by Ondřej Macek.]
1731: Alvilda regina de' Goti, RV 696, Libretto: Giulio Cesare Corradi (Prague, Sporck Theater) [only some arias by Vivaldi, probably from other operas]
1731: Semiramide, RV 733, Libretto: Francesco Silvani & Domenico Lalli (Mantua, Teatro Arciducale)
1732: La fida ninfa, RV 714, Libretto: Francesco Scipione (Verona, Teatro Filarmonico)
1732: Doriclea, RV 708, Libretto: Antonio Marchi (Prague, Sporck Theater) [reworking of La costanzatrionfante (RV 706)]
1733: Motezuma, RV 723, Libretto: Girolamo Alvise Giusti (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1734: L'Olimpiade, RV 725, Libretto: Pietro Metastasio (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1735: L’Adelaide, RV 695, Libretto: Antonio Salvi (Verona, Teatro Filarmonico)
1735: Il Tamerlano (Il Bajazet), RV 703, Libretto: Agostino Piovene (Verona, Teatro Filarmonico) [pasticcio]
1735: Griselda, RV 718, Libretto: Apostolo Zeno / Carlo Goldoni (Venice, Teatro San Samuele, May 18)
1735: Aristide, RV 698, Libretto: Carlo Goldoni (Venice, Teatro San Samuele)
1736: Ginevra principessa di Scozia, RV 716, Libretto: Antonio Salvi (Florence, Teatro della Pergola)
1737: Catone in Utica, RV 705, Libretto: Pietro Metastasio (Verona, Teatro Filarmonico, May 26)
1737: L’oracolo in Messenia, RV 726, Libretto: Apostolo Zeno (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)
1738: Rosmira (Rosmira fedele), RV 731, Libretto:Silvio Stampiglia (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo, January 27)
[pasticcio arranged by Vivaldi of music by
Johann Adolf Hasse, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Georg Frideric Handel, etc.]
1739: Ferasp, RV 713, Libretto: Francesco Silvani (Venice, Teatro Sant’Angelo)

Concerti

Vivaldi wrote hundreds of concerti for various instruments. Below is a list of notable concerti:
Cello:
Cello concerto in Cm, RV 401
Cello concerto in Em, RV 409
Cello concerto in F, RV 411
Cello concerto in F, RV 412
Cello concerto in G, RV 413
Cello concerto in G, RV 415
Cello concerto in Gm, RV 417
Cello concerto in Am, RV 418
Cello concerto in Am, RV 420
Cello concerto in Bm, RV 424

Mandolin:
Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV 425
Concerto for two Mandolins in G major, RV 532
Mandolin (lute) and orchestra:
Concerto in D major, RV 93

Recorder and flute:
Concerto in D major, RV 95, 'La pastorella'
Concerto in C minor for Treble Recorder, RV 441
Concerto in F major for Treble Recorder, RV 442
Concerto in C major for Sopranino Recorder, RV 443
Concerto in C major for Sopranino Recorder, RV 444
Concerto in A minor for Sopranino Recorder, RV 445
Concerto in F major for Flute ('La Tempesta di Mare'), RV 433 (Op. 10, No. 1), RV 98 and RV 570
Concerto in G minor for Flute ('La Notte'), RV 439 (Op. 10, No. 2)
Concerto in D major for Flute ('Il Gardellino'), RV 428 (Op. 10 No. 3)
Concerto in G major for Flute, RV 435 (Op. 10, No. 4)
Concerto in F major for F, RV 434 (Op. 10, No. 5)
Concerto in G major for Flute, RV 437 (Op. 10, No. 6)
Concerto in C major for 2 Flutes, RV 533

Violin:
The Contest Between Harmony and Invention:
The Four Seasons:
Concerto No. 1 in E major, 'La Primavera' (Spring), RV 269
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, 'L'estate' (Summer), RV 315
Concerto No. 3 in F major, 'L'autunno' (Autumn), RV 293
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, 'L'inverno' (Winter), RV 297
Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, 'La tempesta di mare', RV 253
Concerto No. 6 in C major, 'Il piacere', RV 180
Concerto No. 7 in D minor, RV 242
Concerto No. 8 in G minor, RV 332
Concerto No. 9 in D minor, RV 236
Concerto No. 10 in B-flat major, 'La caccia', RV 362
Concerto No. 11 in D major, RV 210
Concerto No. 12 in C major, RV 178

Brass and woodwind:
Concerto in C major for Two Trumpets, RV 537
Concerto in D major for two Oboes, Bassoon, two French Horns, and Solo Violin, RV 562
Concerto in D minor for two Recorders, two Oboes, and Bassoon, RV 566
Concerto in F major for Oboe, Bassoon, two French Horns, and Solo Violin, RV 571
Concerto in B-flat major for Oboe, Chalumeau, and Solo Violin, RV 579

Sacred works

Missa Sacrum, RV 586 (disputed)
Kyrie, RV 587
Gloria, RV 588
Gloria, RV 589
Gloria, RV 590 (lost)
Credo, RV 591
Credo, RV 592 (disputed)
Domine ad adiuvandum me, RV 593
Dixit Dominus, RV 594
Dixit Dominus, RV 595 ('di Praga')
Confetibor, tibi Domine, RV 596
Beatus vir, RV 597
Beatus vir, RV 598
Beatus vir, RV 599 (lost)
Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 600
Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 601
Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 602
Laudate pueri Dominum, RV 603
In exitu Israel, RV 604
Credidi propter quod, RV 605 (now RV Anh. 35b)
Laudate Dominum, RV 606
Laetatus sum, RV 607
Nisi Dominus, RV 608
Lauda Jerusalem, RV 609
Magnificat, RV 610/610a/610b/611
Deus Tuorum Militum, RV 612
Gaude Mater Ecclesia, RV 613
Laudate Dominum, RV 614 (disputed)
Regina coeli, RV 615 (incomplete)
Salve Regina, RV 616
Salve Regina, RV 617
Salve Regina, RV 618
Salve Regina, RV 619 (lost)
Sanctorum Meritis, RV 620
Stabat Mater, RV 621
Te Deum, RV 622 (lost)
Canta in Prato, Ride in Monte, RV 623 — not to be confused with RV 636, which is 'Canta in Prato, Ride in Fonte'
Carae Rosae Respirate, RV 624 - incomplete without reconstruction of lost second violin and viola parts
Clarae, Stellae, RV 625
In Furore Iustissimae Irae, RV 626
In Turbate Mare, RV 627
Invicti Bellate, RV 628 (incomplete, yet reconstructed and recorded by Academia Montis Regalis)
Longe Mala, Umbrae, Terrores, RV 629 - not to be confused with RV 640, which is a similar motet on the same text but intended for different purposes
Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera, RV 630
O Qui Coeli Terraque Serenitas, RV 631
Sum in Medio Tempestatum, RV 632
Vestro Principi Divino, RV 633
Vos Aurae per Montes, RV 634
Introduzione al Dixit (RV 595) 'Ascende Laeta,' RV 635
Introduzione al Dixit (RV 594?) 'Canta in Prato, Ride in Fonte,' RV 636 -not to be confused with RV 623, which is 'Canta in Prato, Ride in Monte'
Introduzione al Gloria 'Cur sagittas,' RV 637 - the preceding work that was to follow this introductory motet, most likely a lost setting of a Gloria in B♭, is now presumably lost
Introduzione al Miserere 'Filiae Maestae Jerusalem,' RV 638
Introduzione al Gloria (RV 588) 'Jubilate o amoeni chori,' RV 639 - Introductory motet has third movement interwoven with Gloria (RV 588).
Introduzione al Gloria (RV 589) 'Longe Mala, Umbrae, Terrores,' RV 640 - not to be confused with RV 629, which is a similar motet on the same text but intended for different purposes
Introduzione al Miserere 'Non in pratis,' RV 641
Introduzione al Gloria (RV 589) 'Ostro Picta,' RV 642
Oratorio Moyses Deus Pharaonis, RV 643 (lost)
Oratorio Juditha triumphans, RV 644
Oratorio L'adorazione delli tre re magi al bambino Gesu, RV 645 (lost)
Oratorio La vittoria navale predetta dal S Pontefice Pio V Ghisilieri, RV 782 (lost)
Confetibor, tibi domine, RV 789 - manuscript found in damaged condition
Beatus Vir, RV 795
Magnificat, RV 797 (lost) - possibly related to the extant settings of RV 610/610a/610b/611
Nisi Dominus, RV 803
Salve Regina, RV 804 (lost)
Dixit Dominus, RV 807
A possible setting, or even settings (considering the many settings of other liturgical text Vivaldi composed) of the Miserere may have existed, as hinted by the two introductory sets of movements intended for the piece(s), but such composition(s) have been lost.

Antonio Vivaldi: Short Biography | Works | Antonio Vivaldi & Bach


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Antonio Vivaldi Concerto Grosso In D Minor

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