Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto per l’orchestra di Dresda | Staatskapelle Dresden & Guiseppe Sinopoli

A special work for a special orchestra: Vivaldi's Concerto in G minor, RV 577 subtitled “Per l’orchestra di Dresda” is performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, the very ensemble to which it was first dedicated. The concert was given to mark the orchestra’s 450th anniversary, celebrated on 22 September 1998 with a gala performance at the Semperoper in Dresden. The conductor was Guiseppe Sinopoli (1946-2001). ANTONIO VIVALDI Concerto in G minor, RV 577 “Per l’orchestra di Dresda“ (00:00) Coming on stage (00:17) I. Allegro (04:11) II. Largo non molto (06:17) III. Allegro Did Vivaldi have any connection at all with the city of Dresden and why did he dedicate the Concerto in G minor to Dresden’s Court Orchestra? – Around 1700, the Italianate concerto style was enchanting the music world across the whole of Europe. The most famous composer of these concertos ‘in Italian style’ was the Venetian Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741). His violin concertos were played throughout the continent, in Dresden too. In the first half of the 18th century, many of Vivaldi’s works were part of the repertoire of the Dresden Court Orchestra (known as the Staatskapelle since 1918), already one of the best orchestras in Europe at the time. A key bridging figure between Venice and Saxony was Johann Georg Pisendel (1687-1755), from 1712 first violinist with the Court Orchestra and from 1728 to 1755, as concert master responsible for instrumental music performed in the city that was home to the Saxon electors and kings. In 1716/1717, Pisendel accompanied the Saxon Prince Elector Frederick Augustus, son of Augustus the Strong, to Italy, where he met Vivaldi. He stayed one year and studied under the famous Venetian master. Their friendship was so close, Vivaldi dedicated several compositions to Pisendel. After his return from Italy, Pisendel performed many Vivaldi works in Dresden and also established the largest collection outside Italy of scores featuring pieces by the Venetian composer. To this day, 170 Vivaldi compositions are stored at the Saxon State Library, among them many original scores. But Antonio Vivaldi didn’t just write violin concertos for the concert master Pisendel, he also thought very highly of his orchestra and dedicated the Concerto in G minor, RV 577 “Per l’orchestra di Dresda”, to the ensemble. With its instrumentation for solo violin, two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons, strings and basso continuo, the concerto grosso bears witness to the high standard of the Dresden Court Orchestra at the time. With 40 members, it wasn’t just one of the greatest orchestras in Europe, it also brought together virtuosos from a variety of disciplines – one reason why the ensemble was revered far beyond Saxony. A co-production of MDR, NHK & EuroArts © 1998 MDR & EuroArts Watch more concerts in your personal concert hall:    • CONCERT HALL   Subscribe to DW Classical Music:    / dwclassicalmusic   #vivaldi #violinconcerto #baroquemusic