Gloria in Excelsis Deo (RV589) by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by an all-female orchestra and choir at Ospedalle della Pietà in Venice, where the composer worked as maestro del violin and maestro di concerti between 1703-1740. The Pietà was one of four institutions in Venice that catered for society’s derelicts; it took in foundlings, or unwanted and abandoned babies and infants, and gave to those of them (perhaps one in ten) who showed musical promise or aptitude a thorough grounding in music. [...] Many accounts survive to illustrate the high quality of these performances, often penned by travellers undertaking the Grand Tour, who were attracted by the reputation of these famous girls and women. They generally performed in the galleries or cantorie of the church by candlelight and stationed behind gauze curtains and a metal grille which lent an air of mystery to the proceedings. (spav.co.uk/SPAVdocumentary.html) https://youtube/watch?v=cgaOVV4JQHA
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:48:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015