As a virtuoso violinist, as a teacher, as a priest and as a prolific composer, Antonio Vivaldi was a key figure in Baroque Italy and remains one of the most famous names in classical music today. In Thursday’s programme. Donald Macleod explores the peak of Vivaldi’s fame when he completed commissions for the great and the good and was knighted by an emperor, and his rapid fall from grace to poverty and anonymity.

Concerto per S.A.S.I.S.P.G.M.D.G.S.M.B., RV 574 - III. Allegro
Adrian Chandler (violin/director)
La Serenissima

Violin Concerto in E major “la primavera”, RV 269
Il Giardino Armonico
Giovanni Antonini (conductor)

La Senna Festeggiante, RV693 – Sinfonia
The Kings Consort
Robert King (conductor)

La Senna Festeggiante, RV693 - ‘Pieta dolcezza fanno il suo volto’
Carolyn Sampson (soprano)
Hilary Summers (alto )
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
The Kings Consort
Robert King (conductor)

Violin Concerto No. 12 in B Minor “La Cetra”, RV 391
Rachel Podger (violin)
Holland Baroque Society

Argippo, RV697 – Se lento ancora il fulmine
Cecilia Bartoli (Soprano)
Ensemble Matheus
Jean-Christophe Spinosi (director)

Il Bajazet, RV 703 - Sinfonia
L’Arte Dell”Arco
Christopher Hogwood (conductor)

Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Cymru Wales Show less