Composer

:

Antonio Vivaldi

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

before 1742

Average_duration

:

11:38

"Allor che lo sguardo" is a vocal work composed by Antonio Vivaldi, an Italian Baroque composer, in the early 18th century. The piece is a solo cantata for soprano and continuo, and it is one of Vivaldi's most famous vocal works. The composition of "Allor che lo sguardo" is believed to have taken place in the early 1720s, during Vivaldi's tenure as the music director of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. The piece was likely composed for one of the talented young female singers at the institution, who would have performed it as part of the Ospedale's regular musical performances. The cantata is divided into three movements, each of which showcases Vivaldi's skill at crafting expressive and virtuosic vocal music. The first movement, marked "Largo," is a slow and mournful aria in which the singer laments the loss of a loved one. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is a lively and energetic aria in which the singer expresses her desire to be reunited with her beloved. The final movement, marked "Largo," returns to the mournful mood of the first movement, as the singer reflects on the pain of separation. One of the most striking characteristics of "Allor che lo sguardo" is Vivaldi's use of vocal ornamentation. Throughout the piece, the soprano is called upon to execute a variety of trills, runs, and other embellishments, which serve to heighten the emotional impact of the music. Additionally, Vivaldi's use of chromaticism and dissonance in the harmonies adds to the expressive power of the piece. "Allor che lo sguardo" premiered in Venice in the early 1720s, and it quickly became one of Vivaldi's most popular vocal works. Its combination of expressive vocal writing and virtuosic ornamentation has made it a favorite of sopranos and audiences alike, and it remains a staple of the Baroque vocal repertoire to this day.

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