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Vivaldi and Anna

Donald Macleod focuses on Vivaldi's relationship with Anna Giro, a singer for whom he wrote many operatic roles.

As part of Baroque Spring, a month long season of Baroque music and culture, Donald Macleod explores the life and works of Vivaldi.

Vivaldi met the singer Anna Giro during a trip to Mantua and they quickly became inseparable. He wrote role after role for her, and they toured for months at a time, putting on operas as they went, with Anna in the starring role. According to Vivaldi's librettist, she "did not have a beautiful voice, nor was she a great musician, but she was pretty and attractive, she acted well and had protectors: one needs nothing more to deserve the role of a prima donna.".

1 hour

Music Played

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    L Olimpiade (overture)

    Performer: I Solisti Veneti Performer: Claudio Scimone (conductor)

    • ERATO:4509963812.
    • 10.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Ottone in Villa (Act 2, Scene 3, 4, 5)

    Performer: Nancy Argenta (Caio) Performer: Sophie Daneman (Tullia) Performer: Collegium Musicum 90 Performer: Richard Hickox (conductor)

    • Chandos:CHAN0614.
    • 15.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Teuzzone (Act 1 Scene 4-5)

    Performer: Roberta Mameli (Cino) Performer: Furio Zanasi (Sivenio) Performer: Le Concert des Nations Performer: Jordi Savall (director)

    • Naive:OP30513.
    • 12.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Orlando furioso (Act 2, Scene 11)

    Performer: Jennifer Larmore (Alcina) Performer: Veronica Cangemi (Angelica) Performer: Blandine Staskiewicz (Medoro) Performer: Les Eléments Choir Performer: Ensemble Matheus Performer: Jean-Christophe Spinosi (conductor)

    • Naive:OP30393.
    • 22.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Dopo un?orrida procella (from Griselda)

    Performer: Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo) Performer: Il Giardino Armonico Performer: Giovanni Antonini (conductor)

    • DECCA:4665692DEC.
    • 2.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    L Olimpiade (overture)

    Performer: I Solisti Veneti Performer: Claudio Scimone (conductor)

    • ERATO:4509963812.
    • 10.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Ottone in Villa (Act 2, Scene 3, 4, 5)

    Performer: Nancy Argenta (Caio) Performer: Sophie Daneman (Tullia) Performer: Collegium Musicum 90 Performer: Richard Hickox (conductor)

    • Chandos:CHAN0614.
    • 15.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Teuzzone (Act 1 Scene 4-5)

    Performer: Roberta Mameli (Cino) Performer: Furio Zanasi (Sivenio) Performer: Le Concert des Nations Performer: Jordi Savall (director)

    • Naive:OP30513.
    • 12.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Orlando furioso (Act 2, Scene 11)

    Performer: Jennifer Larmore (Alcina) Performer: Veronica Cangemi (Angelica) Performer: Blandine Staskiewicz (Medoro) Performer: Les Eléments Choir Performer: Ensemble Matheus Performer: Jean-Christophe Spinosi (conductor)

    • Naive:OP30393.
    • 22.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Dopo un?orrida procella (from Griselda)

    Performer: Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo) Performer: Il Giardino Armonico Performer: Giovanni Antonini (conductor)

    • DECCA:4665692DEC.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 20 Mar 2013 12:00
  • Wed 20 Mar 2013 18:30

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