SPECIAL EVENT

Ensemble Caprice (MONTREAL)

Ensemble ArtChoral (MONTREAL)

The music making by Ensemble Caprice was first rate. – New York Times

Vivaldi and His Angels

In the early years of the eighteenth century, music lovers from all over Europe traveled to Venice to hear performances by orphan girls in the Ospedale della Pietà. Among the greatest of the works performed in the Ospedale were Vivaldi’s Magnificat and Gloria, performed on this occasion by female voices alone, as it was likely first performed.

This program has been created in posthumous homage to the incredible music that Vivaldi composed for the orphans of the Ospedale. One can picture the scene when concerts were presented at the Church of  La Pietà. These performances attracted a large audience, whose attendance was for a number of reasons, the first being the wonderful effect that the playing and singing produced. The female choir members must have sounded like angels in paradise while, at the same time, it seemed almost inconceivable that such young girls could master the excessively difficult concertos that their teacher Vivaldi had composed for them. It must have caused a sensation! Furthermore, the effect was intensified because the young women were hidden behind a barrier so that no one could see them.

The program is rounded out with two recorder concerti, demonstrating the instrumental virtuosity that was achieved by these angels.

We will be presenting a choral and a recorder workshop on the day of the concert. Follow the link for more information:  Workshops  

Program:

Tickets $41; 10% discount for seniors & members; youth and students FREE at the door.