Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741) Sacred Music.
*Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation* (00:00-04:21)
O QUI CAELI, RV 631 Motet for soprano and string orchestra
00:00 I. RV 631 Allegretto
05:26 II. RV 631 Recitativo
06:12 III. RV 631 Largo
11:54 IV. RV 631 Allegro (Alleluia)
Uta SPRECKELSEN, Sopran

DIXIT DOMINUS, RV 595
for soli, choir, orchestra and continuo
13:33 I. Dixit Dominus RV 595
15:55 II. Donec ponam RV 595
21:02 III. Virgam virtutis RV 595
23:32 IV. Tecum principium
25:53 V. Juravit Dominus RV 595
28:36 VI. Dominus a dextris RV 595
30:31 VII. Judicabit RV 595
34:25 VIII. De torrente RV 595
38:56 IX. Gloria Patri, Sicut erat RV 595
41:28 X. Et in saecula saeculorum RV 595

Uta SPRECKELSEN, Verena SCHWEIZER, Soprane
Hanna SCHAER, Alt // Jean-Pierre MAURER, Tenor
Michel BRODARD, basse/Bass // Danielle GROSGURIN, Cello
Christiane JACOTTET, harpsichord (Dobson)
Philippe CORBOZ, organ (Füglister)
ENSEMBLE VOCAL DE LAUSANNE
ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE DE LAUSANNE
Conductor: Michel CORBOZ

GLORIA in D Major, RV 588
44:58 I. Gloria
47:32 II. Et in terra pax
52:37 III. Laudamus te
55:05 IV. Gratias agimus tibi
56:01 V. Domine Deus
58:14 VI. Domine Fili unigenite
59:35 VII. Domine Deus
1:01:45 VIII. Qui tollis
1:03:15 IX. Qui sedes
1:06:26 X. Quoniam tu solus sanctus
1:08:07 XI. Cum sancto spiritu

Jennifer SMITH, Anna BERNARDIN, Soprane
Edmund BARHAM, Tenor // John TOLL, Organ
Michael LAIRD, trumpet
Clare SHANKS, Sophie WILSON, Oboe
Jeremy WARD, bassoon
Charles MEDLAM, cello
ENGLISH BACH FESTIVAL CHORUS
Cchorus master: Nicholas CLEOBURY
ENGLISH BACH FESTIVAL BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Leader: John HOLLOWAY
Conductor: Michel CORBOZ

The motet, o QUI CAELI RV 631, has an inward and contemplative character with a decided bias in favour of tender and lyrical colours, though with an occasional tinge of melancholy. The text is a meditation on the fragility and evanescence of this world where all things have an end ("the rose that dies, the wave that subsides") — represented in the middle section of the opening aria, and especially in the second aria, a 3/4 Largo in C minor. Here once more the Prete Rosso achieves a mode of expression that anticipates later developments in music. The tonal atmosphere of certain passages is that of Mozart's Abendempfindung an Laura, that pioneer of the Romantic Lied.

The DIXIT DOMINUS RV 595 is known to us from a rather late copy (1738), and indeed the assurance and maturity of the style suggest that this may be one of Vivaldi's last works for the institution. In the opening and closing choruses the string orchestra is enriched by two oboes and a genuinely concertante trumpet. The brilliant sonority of D major is admirably suited to this psalm with its affirmation of the messianic kingship of Christ. *Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation*

Antonio Vivaldi PLAYLIST (references recordings): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3UZpQL9LIxM9n3TIyfonkG5WJ8RduS1A