Spring - Piet脿
Donald Macleod explores spring in the life of Antonio Vivaldi, and his early years in Venice working at the Ospedale della Piet脿.
Donald Macleod explores spring in the life of Antonio Vivaldi, and his early years in Venice working at the Ospedale della Piet脿.
As performer, composer, impresario, musical director, and teacher, Antonio Vivaldi was a key figure in the musical life of Baroque Italy. Thanks to his set of Concertos 鈥淭he Four Seasons鈥�, he remains one of the most famous and best loved composers today. This week, Donald Macleod puts these four celebrated concertos front and centre as he also explores the four seasons of Vivaldi鈥檚 own life, lingering a little in his summer. We'll follow him from the start of his musical story, teaching at the Ospedale della Piet脿 in Venice, through his time as an opera composer, catering to the crowds who swarmed to Venice during carnival season, to his successes away from Venice. Vivaldi had many highs in his career, however he also had some difficult low points, finding himself embroiled in scandal and accused of immoral behaviour, before dying in poverty in a foreign city 鈥� his star having fallen from favour.
In Monday鈥檚 episode, Donald explores spring in Vivaldi鈥檚 life and his early years in Venice working at the Ospedale della Piet脿 鈥� the Hospital of the Compassion - an orphanage for young girls, one of four such institutions across Venice, which acted as musical schools. Vivaldi would go on to have connections with the Piet脿 for almost all of his working life.
Violin Concerto in E major, Op 8 no. 1 RV 269 鈥淪pring鈥�
Nigel Kennedy, violin & director
English Chamber Orchestra
Credo, RV 591
Les Arts Florissants
Paul Agnew, director
Juditha Triumphans: excerpt
Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo-soprano (Judith)
Rachel Redmond, soprano (Vagaus)
Marina de Liso, mezzo-soprano (Holopherne)
Luc铆a Mart铆n-Cart贸n, soprano (Abra)
Kristin Mulders, mezzo-soprano(Ozias)
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Le Concert des Nations
Jordi Savall, conductor
L鈥檈stro Armonico, Op.3 : Concerto no. 11 in D minor for 2 violins and cello
Tafelmusik
Jeanne Lamon, conductor
L鈥檌ncoronazione di Dario 鈥� Act I, Scene 5 鈥淒鈥檜n bel viso鈥�
Delphine Galou, alto (Argene)
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavia Dantone, conductor
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto No 1 in E major, Op 8, RV269 (Spring) (The Four Seasons)
Performer: Nigel Kennedy. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra.- Warner Classics : 5562532.
- Warner Classics.
- 1.
-
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Credo in E minor, RV591
Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: Paul Agnew.- Harmonia Mundi HAF 8905358.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 17.
-
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Juditha Triumphans, RV645 (excerpt)
Performer: Jordi Savall. Singer: Marianne Beate Kielland. Singer: Rachel Redmond. Singer: Marina de Liso. Singer: Luc铆a Mart铆n-Cart贸n. Singer: Kristin Mulders. Ensemble: La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Orchestra: Le Concert des Nations.- ALIA VOX AVSA 9935.
- ALIA VOX.
- 24.
-
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto No 11 (from L'estro Armonico, Op 3)
Ensemble: Tafelmusik. Director: Jeanne Lamon.- ANALEKTA AN29835.
- ANALEKTA.
- 14.
-
![]()
Antonio Vivaldi
L'incoronazione di Dario, RV719 (Act 1, Scene 5)
Singer: Delphine Galou. Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina. Conductor: Ottavio Dantone.
Broadcasts
- Mon 30 Jan 2023 12:00麻豆约拍 Radio 3
- Mon 27 May 2024 16:00麻豆约拍 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.