Anna Maria's handwritten part-book for Concerto RV 581 reveals that Vivaldi's music for her sometimes prioritized extreme dissonances over harmonic beauty, pushing the boundaries of what was expected.
Historical Context
Baldassare Galuppi and Tomaso Albinoni, two other composers featured on this album, also had close ties to the Venetian ospedali, with Galuppi serving as Maestro di coro at a rival institution.
Performer Biography
Anna Maria, a foundling at the Ospedale della Pietà, became a renowned instrumentalist and teacher, known beyond Italy, and died at over 80 years old in the same institution.
Historical Context
The Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, where Anna Maria lived, was an orphanage for girls that also functioned as a school, conservatory, tourist attraction, and commercial enterprise.
Composition History
Antonio Vivaldi composed over 25 violin concertos specifically for Anna Maria, which was about five times more than he wrote for his more famous male pupil, Georg Pisendel.
Interpretation
Midori Seiler and Concerto Köln incorporate wind instruments like oboes, flutes, and chalumeaux into the works to emulate the instrumental timbre of the Ospedale della Pietà, a common practice at the time.
Composer Biography
Antonio Vivaldi, a prominent composer, personally arranged for Anna Maria to receive a good instrument, taught her, and fostered her development.
