Vivaldi composed for a choir and orchestra almost exclusively made up of girls at the Ospedale della Pietà, an institution for orphan girls in Venice where he taught.
Instruments
The oboe was a very popular instrument in the early 18th century, and Vivaldi composed about twenty concertos for it, giving it a more expressive and virtuoso dimension.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Vivaldi's Gloria RV 589 is deeply expressive, translating the text of each of its eleven verses with admirable eloquence and dramatic dimension.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in February 2021 at the Abbaye de Fontevraud, a former monastic city in France, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with all participants wearing masks and observing social distancing.
Compositional Technique
In this recording, the oboe plays the part of the second trumpet in Vivaldi's Concerto for two trumpets RV 537, without any musical arrangement, to blend the sounds of the two instruments.
Historical Context
Antonio Caldara, born in Venice in 1670, pursued his career outside his native city and died in Vienna in 1736, five years before Antonio Vivaldi, who also died in Vienna in poverty.
Album & Artwork
The album's cover art features 'ORIS', an installation of suspended sculptures by Samuel Yal in the Abbaye de Fontevraud, which uses materials like porcelain, gold, wax, and honey glass.
