![]() He composed 44 operas, 40 cantatas, more than 40 concertos for strings in four parts, dozens of sonatas and symphonies, and 60-odd sacred works.įor 36 years he was the musical director at the Ospedale della Pieta, an orphanage for young girls, many of whom possessed such exquisite musical talents that they constituted one of the best orchestras in Italy and the most eminent cultural attraction of Venice. Once we open the musical vaults of Antonio Vivaldi, the options are almost unlimited. 5-12 (MHS-11085Z) by the English Concert on period instruments, conducted from the harpsichord by Mr. ![]() ``The Four Seasons'' is marvelous music, especially in the compact disc version by Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert (DGG Archiv Produktion - 400-045-2), but why stop with just the first four pieces of Opus 8? Why not look into the equally brilliant numbers 5 through 12 of this same opus which, in its entirety, is known as ``Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione,'' or ``The Contest of Harmony and Invention''? The recording I most admire of this exceptional music is available only by mail from Musical Heritage Society (1710 Highway 35, Ocean, NJ, 07712): an elegant reading of Op. Take, for example, the compositions of Antonio Vivaldi, who is familiar to many listeners entirely on the basis of the first four concertos, called ``The Four Seasons,'' of his elaborate 12-part Opus 8. And this seems a bit of a shame, given the treasury of accessible and accomplished 17th-century music that is still largely unknown. But now, recording the golden oldies of the Baroque has faded from fashion. Almost at once a search began for other ``Great Hits of 1700.'' As a result, we now have a long list of recordings of lovely adagios and airs by various Baroque composers. This orchestral version of an organ piece by the little-known 17th-century German composer became a hit. Then, quite suddenly, recording after recording was released of Pachelbel's Canon in D. A DECADE ago, audiophiles rarely encountered the music of an obscure Baroque composer by the name of Johann Pachelbel.
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