Concerto for 2 Mandolins in G Major

A small member of the lute family—soft-spoken, with a sweet, bright tone—the mandolin isn’t an obvious concerto soloist. But in his Concerto for Two Mandolins, Vivaldi puts it firmly in the spotlight, turning a musical supporting act into a star. Pairing two solo mandolins gives the composer greater creative scope; together they are more equally weighted against the accompanying string orchestra—partners not rivals. The concerto opens with a sunny “Allegro”, lively with semiquavers. After a collective statement of the main theme, the strings fall away while the two soloists develop it in a series of elegant exchanges. The wistful melody of the central “Andante” is emphasised by the suddenly spare texture—the soloists singing brightly out above delicate plucked chords in violins and violas (lower strings suddenly silent). The concerto comes to an exuberant close in a vibrant triple-time dance.