Mention Antonio Vivaldi’s name and most people immediately think of The Four Seasons. And while it’s true he wrote hundreds of concertos and concerti grossi for which he is remembered today, Vivaldi was also a prolific composer in other genres as well. By the time of his death in 1741 he left behind a huge body of choral works and operas, which, with a few exceptions, has been neglected today, even though there are some remarkable gems to be found here. Gerald Elias knows what kind of treasure trove this largely forgotten cache of works is, and this is where he likes to go to find inspiration for his annual Vivaldi by Candlelight concerts.
Gerald Elias
Ever since Elias became music director of this annual series, a benefit for the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, he has frequently spotlighted the lesser known gems in Vivaldi’s huge repertoire. And he usually gets some interesting comments from people. “One year, when I told someone we were going to have Celena Shafer sing some arias by Vivaldi I was told, ‘Vivaldi never wrote anything for voice,’ so I sent him a list of operas Vivaldi had written,” Elias said in an interview with Reichel Recommends. “The sheer number puts Mozart to shame.”
All of these operas have overtures, or sinfonias as they were called in the early 18th century. One of them will be on the program at Saturday’s concert: the Sinfonia in C major, L’Olimpiade, RV 725. “In its structure of three short movements it’s typical of the operatic sinfonias of the time,” Elias said. “This piece is perky, energetic and virtuosic.”
Two other sinfonias by Vivaldi are on the program as well, though neither of them are taken from any of his operas. The Sinfonia in G major, Alla Rustica is light and bright – the type of piece one expects from Vivaldi. The other, however, is its total opposite. The Sinfonia in B minor, Al Santo Sepolcro, RV 169, is dark, religious and mysterious. “It’s a side of Vivaldi you don’t expect to hear,” Elias said. “It’s a profound piece of music with religious imagery. It gives the program depth.”
Contrasting starkly with Al Santo Sepolcro is Heinrich Biber’s Battalia of 1673, an odd little eight-movement programmatic piece that treats war in a virtuosic and lighthearted manner. “This is so different than anything we’ve done before,” Elias said. “It’s a crazy, off the wall piece that shows great creativity. It’s going to be a riot.”
Two works by J.S. Bach will also be on the program, the famous “Air” from the Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068, and the Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043, with Utah Symphony colleagues David Porter and Lynnette Stewart as soloists. “I’m very happy to have these two pieces that everybody knows on the program,” Elias said.
Rounding out the concert is Elias’ transcription of Giuseppe Tartini’s Sonata in G minor, Devil’s Trill. “It’s originally for violin and keyboard and I arranged it as a concerto grosso.” This will be the work’s premiere and Elias is looking forward to it. “I think it turned out pretty well. It has all the diabolical virtuosity of the original.”
Elias had to make some changes to the original program. David Cowley, the principal oboe of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer’s other orchestra) and a close friend of Elias’, was scheduled to come to Salt Lake City and play Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor, BWV 1060, with Elias. But there were problems with Cowley obtaining a visa. “We were planning on having him coming over here for over a year,” Elias said. “But it was more complicated and time consuming to apply for a visa than we expected. It’s all very stupid. But we’re hoping we’ll be able to get him to join us next year.”
Elias, the former associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony who stepped down from his position at the end of last season, will conduct his old colleagues in the Vivaldi Virtuosi. New to the ensemble this year is Kathryn Eberle, who replaced Elias as associate concertmaster. “It’s basically the same group we’ve had for years, except for Kathryn and for Roberta Zalkind and John Eckstein who will be rejoining the group this year.”
CONCERT INFO:
What: Vivaldi by Candlelight, benefit concert for the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy
Venue: First Presbyterian Church, 12 C St.
Time and Date: 8 p.m. Dec. 10
Tickets: $40 reserved seating
Phone: 801-832-3270