ANTONIO VIVALDI Le Quattro Stagioni

In Venice, La Pietà was an important institution which, at the end of the 17th century, had about thirty pupils, instrumentalists and singers; the young girls practised intensively every day, and the most talented ones collaborated in the training of the others.

The programme we present in this recording, with the Four Seasons and other concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, is a tribute to this magical violinist, teacher and composer who was one of the main reasons for the excellence and success of the orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà.

Today, the new ensemble LES MUSICIENNES DU CONCERT DES NATIONS, with Alfia Bakieva on solo violin, is inspired by Vivaldi’s legendary orchestra to embark on an exciting adventure.

ALIA VOX
AVSA9958

Total :
CD1: 62,48
CD2: 53,46

ANTONIO VIVALDI
L’orchestra dell’Ospedale della Pietà
Le Quattro Stagioni
& Concerti d’Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione

CD 1
Le Quattro Stagioni, Op. 8 – Violino, Archi e Continuo – Con lettura dei Sonetti
1-3. LA PRIMAVERA · Concerto Nº 1 in mi maggiore, RV 269 – 11’28
4-6. L’ESTATE · Concerto Nº 2 in sol minore, RV 315 – 10’45
7-9. L’AUTUNNO · Concerto Nº 3 in fa maggiore, RV 293 – 11’28
10-12. L’INVERNO · Concerto Nº 4 in fa minore, RV 297  – 9’37

Il Proteo o sia il mondo al rovescio, RV 544
13-15. Concerto in fa Maggiore con Violino e Violoncello, Archi e Continuo  – 10’22

La Tempesta di mare, RV 253
16-18. Concerto in mi bemolle maggiore per Violino, Archi e Organo – 9’23

CD 2
L’Estro armonico, Op 3. Concerto n. 10 in si minore, RV 580 con 4 Violini, Violoncello, Archi e Continuo
1-3. Allegro – Largo, Larghetto, Adagio, Largo – Allegro – 9’36

Andante (Secondo movimento) dal Concerto per Violino, Archi e Continuo in si bemolle maggiore, RV 583
4. Andante (Secondo movimento) – 4’05

Le Quattro Stagioni, Op. 8 – Violino, Archi e Continuo
5-7. LA PRIMAVERA · Concerto Nº 1 in mi maggiore, RV 269 – 10’45
8-10. L’ESTATE · Concerto Nº 2 in sol minore, RV 315 – 9’44
11-13. L’AUTUNNO · Concerto Nº 3 in fa maggiore, RV 293 – 11’03
14-16. L’INVERNO · Concerto Nº 4 in fa minore, RV 297 – 12’17

LES MUSICIENNES DU CONCERT DES NATIONS
Alfia Bakieva violino solo (*)
Direction : Jordi Savall

Enregistré du 3 au 7 janvier 2024 à Collégiale de Cardona (Catalogne) par Manuel Mohino.
Montage et Mastering SACD : Manuel Mohino

(*) Alfia Bakieva plays a Francesco Rugeri violin, built in 1680 in Cremona, Italy, on loan from the Jumpstart Jr. Foundation.

–

LES MUSICIENNES DU CONCERT DES NATIONS

A tribute to Antonio Vivaldi
and the female musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà

Thanks to the numerous auditions held every year since 2019 by LE CONCERT DES NATIONS and the CIMA Foundation to select candidates for our Professional Development Academies, and thanks also to the work carried out during the academies, since 2019 we have been able to incorporate many excellent female musicians in the major symphonic programs performed up to the end of 2023 as well as in those scheduled in forthcoming seasons. Today about twenty of these young musicians under the age of 39 have formed a new orchestra which goes by the name of LES MUSICIENNES DU CONCERT DES NATIONS. This ensemble begins its artistic journey with a line-up of 20 young female musicians (comprising 5 violins I, 4 violins II, 4 viols, 3 cellos, 2 contrabasses, 1 chitarrone/guitar and 1 harpsichord). The great majority of them play string instruments, having already had the experience of taking part in Le Concert des Nations’ major symphonic projects since 2019, in which they performed works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Mendelssohn.

The first programme, which we present on this recording featuring The Four Seasons and other concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, is a tribute to the magnificent violinist, teacher and composer who in his day was one of those chiefly responsible for the excellence and success of the orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà. In August, 1703, the young 25-year-old Vivaldi (a few months after being ordained a priest on 23rd March, 1703) was appointed maestro di violino by the authorities of the Ospedale della Pietà, taking over from Buonaventura Spada, who had been in charge since 1673 (this new position allowed him to continue living with his parents until their death).

Jordi Savall
+ information in the CD booklet