Concerto for Piccolo

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 scire preserved today in the Renzo Giordano Collection of the Biblioteca Nazionale in Turin.