Concerto for Piccolo RV 443 Antonio Vivaldi / Arr. Diana Mols

Program Notes

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Piccolo Concerto in C
This concerto for flautino, strings and basso continuo was probably composed while
Antonio Vivaldi was employed at the Seminario dell'Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. This
ospedale' was an orphanage for girls that increasingly came to promote musical talent
and commanded an orchestra of international repute. Vivaldi wrote a large number of
works for the young musicians to play at their concerts on Sundays and holidays. Since
their surnames were usually unknown, the girls were often named after their respective
instrument and called e.g., Michieletta del violin or Cattarina del cornetto.
The sole source for this concerto is the autograph score preserved today in the Renzo
Giordano Collection of the Biblioteca Nazionale in Turin.