MUSIC SATURDAY - VIVALDI'S CELLO CONCERTOS

“When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice - my voice.” - Mstislav Rostropovich
 
For Music Saturday, the complete Cello Concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Ofra Hanoy and the Toronto Chamber Orchestra.
 
They are the following concertos:

Concerto for Cello, RV 405 in D minor

Concerto for Cello, RV 401 in C minor 10:23

Concerto for Cello, RV 423 in B-flat 22:34

Concerto for Cello, RV 399 in C 32:45

Concerto for Cello and Bassoon, RV 409 in E minor 41:18

Concerto Movement for Cello, RV 538 in D minor 50:15

Concerto for Cello, RV 403 in D 53:51

Concerto for Cello, RV 424 in B minor 1:02:23

Concerto for Cello, RV 422 in A minor 1:12:32

Concerto for Cello, RV 402 in C minor 1:23:54

Concerto for Cello, RV 412 in F 1:34:20

Concerto for Cello, RV 414 in G 1:43:18

Concerto for Cello, RV406 in D minor 1:56:58

Concerto for Cello, RV 411 in F 2:07:16

Concerto for Cello, RV 404 in D 2:13:47

Concerto for Cello, RV 420 in A Minor 2:21:29

Concerto for Cello, RV 407 in D Minor 2:34:31

Concerto for Cello, RV 417 in G Minor 2:44:38

Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, RV 544 in F 2:55:07

Concerto for Cello, RV 418 in A-Minor 3:06:21

Concerto for Cello, RV 408 in E-Flat 3:17:46

Concerto for Cello, RV 416 in G Minor 3:28:58

Concerto for Cello, RV 419 in A Minor 3:38:44

Concerto for Cello, RV 413 in G 3:48:03

Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, RV 547 in B-Flat 3:59:09

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso (“The Red Priest”) because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, Catholic priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe. Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over forty operas. His best known work is a series of violin concertos known as "The Four Seasons".
 

Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi had been employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later.
 

Though Vivaldi’s music was well received during his lifetime, it later declined in popularity until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century. Today, Vivaldi ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of Baroque composers, second only to Johann Sebastian Bach.