Composer

:

Antonio Vivaldi

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

before 1742

Average_duration

:

8:56

Antonio Vivaldi's 'Piango, gemo, sospiro, RV 675' is a vocal work composed in the Baroque era. It was likely composed in the early 1720s, during Vivaldi's tenure as the music director of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. The work is a solo cantata for alto voice, accompanied by a small ensemble of strings and continuo. 'Piango, gemo, sospiro' is divided into three movements. The first movement, 'Piango, gemo, sospiro', is a lament in A minor. The alto soloist sings of their sorrow and despair, accompanied by a somber string melody. The second movement, 'Sovvente il sole', is a pastoral aria in A major. The soloist sings of the beauty of nature and the joy it brings, accompanied by a lively string melody. The final movement, 'Sperai vicino il lido', is a recitative and aria in A minor. The soloist sings of their hope for salvation and their fear of damnation, accompanied by a dramatic string melody. 'Piango, gemo, sospiro' is characteristic of Vivaldi's vocal music in its use of virtuosic vocal lines and expressive instrumental accompaniment. The work showcases Vivaldi's skill in creating emotional depth through music, as the soloist's voice and the strings intertwine to create a powerful and moving experience for the listener. The work premiered in Venice, likely at the Ospedale della Pietà, and has since become a beloved piece in the vocal repertoire.

More....