Vivaldi becomes unfashionable
Donald Macleod surveys the 1730s when Vivaldi's opera became old-fashioned. Vivaldi turned to popular librettos at the time, including L'Olimpiade by Metastasio.
Donald Macleod surveys the 1730s when Vivaldi's opera became old-fashioned
As part of the 大象传媒's opera season, Composer of the Week takes a look behind the curtain and onto the stage exploring the world of Antonio Vivaldi's operas. Vivaldi was one of the most original and influential Italian composers of his generation, and his music travelled far past the boundaries of his native Italy. He was considered an innovator in the art of violin technique and concerto writing, and yet he said himself that during his career he wrote nearly one hundred operas in total, though few have survived today. Vivaldi not only composed for the stage and performed in theatre orchestras, but he also became something of an impresario managing many aspects of opera productions. This week Donald Macleod is joined by Professor Eric Cross to lift the veil on this lesser known operatic side of the creator of the famed Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi.
During the late 1720s Antonio Vivaldi was at the height of his career. By this time he'd been presented to the Pope, composed music for the wedding of Louis XV of France, and was now spending much time in conversation with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. However, new fashions were emerging in the world of opera, pioneered by composers such as Hasse, Leo and Porpora. Yet Vivaldi's stage works were still popular currency in Europe, including the premiere of his La fida ninfa in Verona in 1732. Vivaldi during this period became aware that trends in opera were changing. In order to combat this and retain interest in his music, Vivaldi turned to popular librettos at the time, including L'Olimpiade by Metastasio.
Con la face di Megera (Semiramide, Act 3 Sc 2)
Lorenzo Regazzo, bass
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini, director
La fida ninfa, RV714 (Act 1 Sc 7-9)
Licori .... Sandrine Piau (soprano)
Elphina .... Marie-Nicole Lemieux (contralto)
Osmino .... Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor)
Ensemble Matheus
Jean-Christophe Spinosi, director
Violin Concerto in E flat major, Op 8 No 5, RV253 (La tempesta di mare)
The Academy of Ancient Music
Andrew Manze, director
L'Olimpiade, RV725 (Act 1 Sc 8-10)
Megacle .... Roberta Invernizzi (soprano)
Licida .... Sara Mingardo (contralto)
Aristea .... Sonia Prina (contralto)
Concerto Italiano
Rinaldo Alessandrini, director
Producer Luke Whitlock.
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Music Played
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Antonio Vivaldi
Semiramide, RV733 - Act III Scene 2: Con la face di Megera
Performer: Concerto Italiano. Singer: Lorenzo Regazzo. Director: Rinaldo Alessandrini. -
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Antonio Vivaldi
La fida ninfa RV714 - Act I Scene 7-9
Singer: Sandrine Piau. Singer: Marie鈥怤icole Lemieux. Singer: Topi Lehtipuu. Ensemble: Ensemble Matheus. Conductor: Jean鈥怌hristophe Spinosi.- 狈补茂惫别:翱辫30410.
- 狈补茂惫别.
- 24.
-
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Antonio Vivaldi
Violin Concerto in E flat major, Op 8 No 5 RV253 - La tempesta di Mare
Performer: Andrew Manze. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU 907230.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 4.
-
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Antonio Vivaldi
L'Olimpiade RV725 - Act I Scene 8-10
Singer: Sara Mingardo. Ensemble: Concerto Italiano. Director: Rinaldo Alessandrini.- NAIVE : OP-30316.
- NAIVE.
- 20.
Broadcast
- Thu 12 Oct 2017 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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