He undoubtedly was close to Antonio, with whom he lived in three different apartments in Venice between 17, the year of his death (only five years before Antonio). Mark's, Giovanni was engaged under the name Rossi, which suggests that red hair was a family trait. Mark's Chapel in Venice, Vivaldi became known for his vanity, temper, and obsession with money - as well as for his intensely energized music that prefigures classical forms, romantic virtuosity, and 19th century program music.Īntonio was the eldest of the children born to Giovanni Vivaldi - a barber before he became a violinist - and Camillo Calichio, a tailor's daughter. Born in 1678 to one of the leading violinists of the famous St. Because of the challenges in the fast movements, this is probably the most difficult of the Opus 10 concertos, too.Antonio Vivaldi's nickname, 'il prete rosso' (the red priest), tells us much about his character and music.

Moreover, the second and fifth movements have descriptive titles, respectively “Fantasmi” (“Ghosts”) and “Il Sonno” (“Sleep”). “La notte” is unique among the Opus 10 concertos: in fact, it is the only one in a minor key, and the only one to have six movements, while all others just have three. These jewels of his Opus 10 have been ever since amongst the composer's best-known works, and rightly so: the engaging chirping of the Goldfinch (“Il Gardellino”), the turbulent Storm at sea (“La tempesta di mare”), and most of all the unforgettable ghosts and nightmares of Night (“La notte”) are eloquent proof of his unequalled ability to conjure up an atmosphere in just a few bars. In 1728, when the publisher Le Cène ordered six concertos for transverse flute, Vivaldi went to no great trouble to supply them: he merely transcribed several existing recorder concertos.

By Antonio Vivaldi, arranged for solo Flute

Concerto in g minor vivaldi