Stravinsky famously quipped that Vivaldi didn’t write 400 concertos, rather he wrote one concerto 400 times. Rather unfair, though witty. For many people though, Vivaldi is the composer of The Four Seasons (the first four of the twelve concertos Op.8), and maybe the famous Gloria. He is a composer who repays closer attention. There are some superb concertos in his large output, and some of them were sufficiently striking enough to attract the attention of J.S. Bach and Johann Quantz. His concertos are remarkable not only for the wealth of invention and the outstanding quality of the music, but also for the amazing range of instruments he wrote for.
Works:
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Vivaldi: Concerto in F major RV442
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Vivaldi: Concerto in G minor, RV105
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Vivaldi: Concerto RV98
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Vivaldi: Flautino Concerto in C major, RV443
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Vivaldi: Flute Concerto, Op. 10 No. 2 in G minor, RV 439 'La notte'
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Vivaldi: Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV 444
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Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto in C major, RV444
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Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto in C minor, RV441