Classical works by Vivaldi

Ensemble Euterpe will let you hear several works by Vivaldi live this afternoon, explained by Boudewijn Hopman. Antonio Vivaldi, an Italian Baroque composer, lived from 1678 to 1741. He wrote hundreds of concertos mainly for string instruments, including ‘The Four Seasons’, his best-known work. 

In his time, his operas were especially popular. Antonio is the son of Giovanni Vivaldi, one of the best violinists at St Mark's Chapel. Due to an earthquake on the day of his birth, his mother endowed him with a future as a priest, and under the eye of his father, Antonio soon developed into a violin virtuoso. He completes his training as a priest in 1703. Because of his fire-red hair, he is called ‘il Prete Rosso’, the red priest. Vivaldi is released from his destiny as a priest in 1703. From then on, Vivaldi is violin teacher at the prosperous Ospedale della Pietà', a home for illegitimate children and orphans. From 1705, these concertos are published for the Osped. 

A breakthrough was the 1711 volume L'estro Armonico, dedicated to Prince Ferdinand of Tuscany, who also subsidised composers such as Handel and Scarlatti. From 1718, Vivaldi travelled regularly but also continued to compose for the home. For six years, he delivered two concerts a month for this purpose. These concerts are often technically sophisticated and testify to Vivaldi's talent for composing fresh, rhythmic music. He also built a reputation as an opera composer, gaining fame with the operas Finto Pazzo, Nerone fatto Cesare and Arsilda, Regina di Ponto, among others, and wrote the Oratorio ‘Juditha triumphans’.

Ensemble Euterpe will let you hear various works by Vivaldi live this afternoon, explained by Boudewijn Hopman. Euterpe consists of: Bekkie Doornweerd (Violin), Boudewijn Hopman (Violin), Hubert Keuning (Cello) and Paul Schiphof (Harpsichord, Organ and Piano). Happy to see you at the Meeting Centre. Members pay €5.00 and non-members €6.50. This includes a cup of coffee or tea.