Les Ambassadeurs~La Grande Ecurie
Alexis Kossenko | flute and direction
A celebratory evening of Vivaldi with the flute of Alexis Kossenko.
Vivaldi Concerto RV 576 « Per la sua altezza reale di Sassonia » for principal violon and oboe, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, bassoon, contrabassoon and orchestra
Concerto RV 582 « Per la Santissima Assontione di Maria Vergine » for violin and 2 orchestras
Concerto RV 585 for 2 organs, 4 violins, 4 recorders and 2 orchestras
Intermission
Concerto RV 558 «Per Federico Cristiano di Sassonia, Principe di Polonia» for 2 marina trombone violins, 2 chalumeaux, 2 recorders, 2 mandolins, 2 theorbos and orchestra
Concerto RV 574 for violin, 2 oboes, 2 horns, bassoon, cello and orchestra
Concerto RV 577 « Per l’orchestra di Dresda » for 2 violins, 2 oboes, 2 recorders, bassoon and orchestra
Concerto RV 556 « Per la Solennita di San Lorenzo » for 2 violins, 2 clarinets, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, bassoon and orchestra
Although he did not invent the concerto form (which is attributed to Torelli and Albinoni), Vivaldi consolidated the style and most of the composition criteria which hardly changed until Beethoven introduced his revolutionary approach. Vivaldi’s concert repertoire comprises almost 500 pieces, most of which are for the violin or for formations made up predominantly of violins. The majority are enchanting works with lush harmonic formulas of very high lyrical quality – another aspect in which the Red Priest was a master in his own lifetime. Alexis Kossenko is intimately acquainted with this huge catalogue and has studied the manuscripts in depth, notably those preserved in Dresden, a city which in Vivaldi’s day had one of the best ensembles in Europe in terms of the diversity of instruments.