About the Album

On this album the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam plays works by Vivaldi. The title of this album refers to the first work on this recording, the concerto grosso in D Major, RV 526a. 

Concerto Grosso à 10 Stromenti in D Major 'Concerto di Amsterdam', RV 526a

Sinfonia nell'Opera l'Olimpiade, RV 725

This sinfonia is from the opera l'Olimpiade which premiered in Venice in 1734. L'Olimpiade was one of Metastasio's finest texts, and was set innumerable times in the eighteenth century. The plot comes from the story of The Trial of the Suitors, found in the sixth book of the Historiae of Herodotus. The love entanglements in the tale were aptly suited to the tastes of eighteenth-century audiences, who nightly went to the theater to see lovers misunderstand one another and become reconciled. In this story, the nobility of two women triumphs over tensions caused when two men fall in love with the same leading lady. The plot is both heroic and pastoral, and Metastasio plans for a good deal of entertaining spectacle distributed throughout the opera.

Violin Concerto 'In Due Cori' in B-Flat Major, RV 583

Vivaldi's RV 583 is a work of Italianate pomp. Its length, and the wealth of ornamentation that Vivaldi wrote into the soloist's part suggests that he was trying to impress someone important.

Sinfonia in B Minor 'Al Santo Sepolcro', RV 169

Violin Concerto in D Major 'Il Grosso Mogul', RV 208

This exuberant violin concerto entitled “Grosso Mogul” is probably from the late 1710s. Vivaldi experts puzzle over the significance of its title. “Grand Mogul” refers to the contemporary ruler of India or his territory, but this is not a descriptive concerto. It was probably played by Vivaldi during the performance of an opera set in India. Like a few other “theatre” concertos, it has demanding cadenzas in each of the outer movements…
This D major Concerto offers a wonderful opportunity for “extreme” violin-playing, particularly in its long, fully written-out cadenzas. It has nearly the same name as a Vivaldi flute concerto (“Il Gran Mogol”) that came to light only recently in the National Archives of Scotland, but is an entirely unrelated work.

Violin Concerto in D Minor, 'Senza Cantin', RV 243

RV 243 is called "Senza cantin" because it requires the soloist to omit using the highest string on his or her instrument, the E string. This is of consequence because it compels the soloist to play very high up on the A string, which creates a distinctive timbre, as well as its own set of technical issues. In the opening movement one hears unusual and beguiling harmonies and chord progressions.

Album Tracks

1 Concerto Grosso à 10 Stromenti in D Major 'Concerto di Amsterdam', RV 526a I. Allegro

2 Concerto Grosso à 10 Stromenti in D Major 'Concerto di Amsterdam', RV 526a II. Grave

3 Concerto Grosso à 10 Stromenti in D Major 'Concerto di Amsterdam', RV 526a III. Allegro

4 Sinfonia nell'Opera l'Olimpiade, RV 725 I. Allegro

 5 Sinfonia nell'Opera l'Olimpiade, RV 725 II. Andante

6 Sinfonia Nell'Opera l'Olimpiade, RV 725 III. Allegro Moderato

7 Violin Concerto 'In Due Cori' in B-Flat Major, RV 583 I. Largo e Spiccato - Allegro non Molto

8 Violin Concerto 'In Due Cori' in B-Flat Major, RV 583 II. Andante

9 Violin Concerto 'In Due Cori' in B-Flat Major, RV 583 III. Allegro

10 Sinfonia in B Minor 'Al Santo Sepolcro', RV 169 Adagio molto - Allegro Ma non Poco

11 Violin Concerto in D Major 'Il Grosso Mogul', RV 208 I. Allegro

12 Violin Concerto in D Major 'Il Grosso Mogul', RV 208 II. Grave - Recitativo

13 Violin Concerto in D Major 'Il Grosso Mogul', RV 208 III. Allegro

14 Violin Concerto in D Minor, 'Senza Cantin', RV 243 I. Allegro

15 Violin Concerto in D Minor, 'Senza Cantin', RV 243 II. Andante Molt

16 Violin Concerto in D Minor, 'Senza Cantin', RV 243 III. Allegro