As maestro di concerto of the Ospedale, Antonio Vivaldi took Anna Maria under his wing. Starting out as her mentor and teacher, he eventually wrote over two dozen Concerti per Anna Maria. She for her part brilliantly mastered the violin and a host of other instruments, and was praised as the “veritable embodiment of all that is good and beautiful”, as a creature “ascending into Paradise”. The so-called Anna Maria Partbook consists of an elegantly bound volume in red leather containing the violin parts of 31 violin concertos, of which 26 are by Antonio Vivaldi. It was the personal repertoire of Vivaldi's most gifted pupil, the famous Anna Maria della Pieta, who played also the viola d'amore, the mandolin, the theorbo, and the harpsichord. 2owthird grade james tes. The so-called “Anna Maria Partbook” consists of an elegantly bound volume in red leather containing the violin parts of 31 violin concertos, of which 26 are by Antonio Vivaldi. It was the personal repertoire of Vivaldi's most gifted pupil, the famous “Anna Maria della.

Review by: John Greene

The six violin concertos offered here are among 30 or so that Vivaldi dedicated to Anna Maria, one of his most gifted pupils who went on to become one of his most important colleagues (she remained on staff at the Ospedale Della Pieta in Venice nearly 70 years until her death at the age of 86). As one would expect given his longstanding admiration of Anna, Vivaldi crafted these remarkably versatile, ravishing concertos not only to showcase the soloist’s apparently limitless expressive range and virtuosity, but he also loaded them with endearing personality and wit that often transcend the flash.

For instance, the humorous, “meowing cat” figures that lace the opening Allegro of RV 387 and the third-movement Allegro ma poco of RV 349 must’ve been as much fun for Anna to perform as they were a pleasure for her audience to listen to. With the equally delightful, extravagant ornamentation heard in the final Allegro of RV 387, opening Allegro of RV 343, and final Allegro of RV 366, you can almost sense Vivaldi’s glee not so much in simply challenging Anna, but also taking pride in providing material that fully complemented her imagination and technical abilities. The wild, equally sensational inner movement of RV 248, with its sharply delineated dynamic contrasts and tempo extremes, also is a stunner. If there’s another equally short movement that combines this many hyper-tempestuous and pensively quiet moments, I’ve yet to hear it!

L’Arte dell’Arco and the ensemble’s director/violin soloist Federico Guglielmo deliver remarkably convincing, stylistically and technically peerless performances. CPO’s SACD sound is quite good, though Guglielmo at times is placed noticeably forward in the mix. Nothing serious. In sum, this is an outstanding recording, strongly recommended, especially to those unfamiliar with the composer’s more playful, if not eccentric side. [2/13/2007]

Recording Details:

Reference Recording:

Vivaldi Anna Maria Violin Concertos

this one

ANTONIO VIVALDI - Concertos in B minor RV 387; A major RV 343; D major RV 229; A major RV 349; D minor RV 248; & B-flat major RV 366

• Federico Guglielmo (violin)
  
• Guglielmo, Federico (conductor)

• CPO - 777 078-2
• SACD

Vivaldi Anna Maria

Midori Seiler
Bavarian-German/Japanese daughter of two pianists, grew up in Salzburg, Austria where she started her musical education at the Mozarteum. Her further studies took her to Basel, London and Berlin. She was mentored by musical celebrities of the most different backgrounds including the 'modern' violinists Helmut Zehetmair, Sandor Végh, Adelina Oprean, David Takeno and Eberhard Feltz as well as the two Ancient Music specialists Stephan Mai and Thomas Hengelbrock.
As a member of the ensemble Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin, Midori played an important role in the international breakthrough of this group. Playing also from the first desk, she participated in numerous recording projects. One particularly outstanding collaboration with dancer and choreographer Juan Cruz de Garaio Esnaola is the now globally applauded recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. This production, celebrated on stages throughout Europe, was published as a live recording on DVD and CD.
Since 2001, Midori is concert master of the orchestra Anima Eterna Brugge, which specializes in orchestral repertoire of the Classical, Romantic and Early 20th century eras.
Her discography including some prizewinning CDs is impressive, comprising the violin concerti of Mozart, Rimskij-Korsakoff's 'Sheherezade' as well as her own reconstruction of the lost violin concerto BWV 1052. Midori also released the Partitas for Violin Solo by Bach, the complete Sonatas for Piano and Violin by Beethoven, and the violin concerti by Haydn. A new CD of chamber music with Jos van Immerseel will be released in 2015.
Midori is rated one of very few specialists of the Historical Performance Practice who feels at home in various epochs; wether as a long-standing member of instrumental consort 'Concerto Vocale' wth Réné Jacobs performing in numerous productions of Early Baroque operas, interpreting the solo works of Bach at international festivals or being on well known chamber music stages with her duo partner Jos van Immerseel for the Classical repertoire.
Midori Seiler's musical passion ranges from performing Baroque violin concertos, as recently heard in a concert at the Bach Festival Leipzig with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, to playing the great violin concerti by Mendelssohn or Beethoven in collaboration with authentic orchestras such as Anima Eterna. Much in demand also as a leader of modern orchestras, Midori was a guest leader at the Budapest Festival Orchestra and at the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
As an artist enthusiastic about education she has been leading the Schwetzinger Court Academy since 2013 with cellist Jaap ter Linden, teaching the music of the Southwesterm courts of the 18th century to the musicians of tomorrow. She has given Master classes in Brugge, Antwerp, Weimar and Stuttgart. From 2010 to 2013, she was professor for Baroque violin and -viola at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar. Starting October 2014, Midori Seiler was appointed professor for Baroque violin and -viola at the University Mozarteum Salzburg.