Vivaldi: Cantatas for Alto

Featuring

Antonio Plotino
Marco Lazzara
Genoa Chamber Orchestra
Antonio Vivaldi

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Composer Biography

Antonio Vivaldi, born in Venice in 1678, dedicated most of his creative energy to instrumental music and melodrama, but also left an enduring mark on the cantata genre.

Instruments

The Orchestra da Camera di Genova features several notable instruments, including a 1742 Guadagnini violin played by Giulio Franzetti and an 18th-century Camillo Camilli violin played by Mario Trabucco.

Performer Biography

Marco Lazzara, the alto on this recording, has a solid technical training, having completed diplomas in piano, organ, and harpsichord before turning to singing.

Composition History

Vivaldi composed a total of 30 cantatas for voice and basso continuo (22 for soprano, 8 for alto) and 9 for voice and instrumental accompaniment (5 for soprano, 4 for alto).

Performer Biography

Marco Lazzara is known for interpreting a wide range of music beyond Baroque, including works from later centuries and even advertising jingles.

Historical Context

The cantata genre began to flourish around 1620, shortly after the first melodramas, eventually replacing the madrigal and developing a defined structure by the late 17th century.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Vivaldi's cantatas often transcend the mediocrity of their poetic texts and the occasional nature of their composition, resulting in effective and expressive music.