Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

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 “The Four Seasons”, 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’s own life, lingering a little in his summer. We'll follow him from the start of his musical story, teaching at the Ospedale della Pietà 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 – his star having fallen from favour.

Music Featured:

Violin Concerto in E major, Op 8 no. 1 RV 269 “Spring” Credo, RV 591 L’oracolo in Messenia – “S’in campo armato” La costanza trionfante de gl'amori e de gl'odii, RV 706 Ottone in villa, RV 729 – “Frema pur, si lagni Roma” Farnace, RV 711 - “Gelido in Omni” Armida - Act I Scene 13: “Armata di furore” Concerto for Multiple Instruments, 'per l'orchestra di Dresda' in G minor, RV 576 Magnificat in G minor, RV 610b Violin Concerto in G minor, Op 8 no. 2 RV 315 “Summer” Violin Concerto in F major, RV 293 Op.8 no 3 “Autumn” Dorilla in Tempe, RV709 – Act II, Scene 8: “Arsa da rai cocenti” Griselda, RV 718 – “Ho il cor gia lacero”; “No, non tanta crudelta”; Terzetto “Non piu regina”; “Son infelice tanto” Farnace, RV 711 – “Forse, o caro, in questi accenti...” Lauda Jerusalem, RV609 Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 Op.8 no. 4 “Winter”

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Mel Bonis (1858 – 1937) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001h57j

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z