The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, founded in 1982 in East Berlin, is now recognized as one of the world's finest chamber orchestras.
Compositional Technique
Vivaldi's 27 cello concertos made a significant contribution to the emancipation of the cello, which was largely an 'unobtrusive' continuo instrument in the early 18th century.
Compositional Technique
Vivaldi established the three-movement structure (fast-slow-fast) and the regular alternation of solo and orchestral sections (ritornello form), founding the Baroque solo concerto tradition.
Performer Biography
Jean-Guihen Queyras, the cellist on this album, was named 'Instrumental Soloist of the Year' at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in March 2008 and 'Artist of the Year' by Diapason magazine readers in November 2008.
Instruments
Jean-Guihen Queyras performs on a cello made by Gioffredo Cappa in 1696, which has been lent to him by Mécénat Musical Société Générale since November 2005.
Composer Biography
Antonio Vivaldi, a Venetian composer, was appointed violin teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà in 1703, an institution for girls, and remained there until 1738.
Composition History
Vivaldi composed hundreds of works for the female instrumentalists of the Ospedale della Pietà, tirelessly experimenting with the instrumental concerto genre.
