Vivaldi's Women

“Vivaldi’s Women” were the orphans of the Ospedale della Pietà convent, orphanage and music school in Venice, for whose highly skilful orchestra Vivaldi wrote many compositions. They include a newly discovered Concerto for Violin, Strings & Continuo in F Major, breezily played by Adrian Chandler in this premiere recording. Its slow movement is one of several on the album showcasing the refined delicacy of Vivaldi’s melodic invention, and elsewhere solos for the chamber organ and reedy chalumeau point up his gourmet’s taste for instrumental colour. A vibrant performance of the psalm setting Nisi Dominus, RV 803 closes out a richly varied programme, performed with zest and eloquence by the expert period-instrument players of La Serenissima.