Les Musiciennes du Concert des Nations / Bakieva / Riesner / Savall

Was Vivaldi actually celibate? Since his ordination to the priesthood in 1703, this would have been only right and proper, but there is no more proof of this than there is of the opposite. In any case, celibacy was not viewed so strictly at the time and 18th century Venice must have been like a permanent »temptation from St Anthony« for a priest. Don Antonio Vivaldi also taught orphan girls to play the violin, cello and viola da gamba at the Ospedale della Pietà for ten years. He wrote the majority of his virtuoso instrumental music for them and formed the orchestra into an ensemble that –, as one read in the gazettes –, was only allowed to be heard in secret so as not to give crowds of music tourists the wrong idea. With his Musiciennes du Concert des Nations and an all-Vivaldi programme, Jordi Savall recalls this Venetian attraction of an all-female top orchestra.