Gloria!

Folger Consort journeys to Venice for the holidays with Vivaldi's beloved Gloria in D, RV589. Written around 1715, the piece was first performed by the all-female choir and orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà, composed entirely of young women and directed by Vivaldi himself. Other seasonal music from the Italian High Baroque includes Alessandro Scarlatti's Christmas Cantata ("O di Betlemme altera, povertà venturosa") and Corelli's magnificent Christmas Concerto. With string orchestra, oboe, trumpet, women's chorus, and vocal soloists.

In association with University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Program:

Arcangelo Corelli, Concerto Grosso op. 6, no. 8 ("Christmas Concerto")
Alessandro Scarlatti, Cantata pastorale per la nascità di Nostro Signore ("O di Betlemme altera, povertà venturosa); featuring soprano Emily Noël

Antonio Vivaldi, Concerto for Trumpet and Oboe in D major, RV 781; featuring soloists Joelle Monroe (trumpet) and Margaret Owens (oboe)
Francesco Geminiani, Concerto Grosso in E minor, H. 78
Antonio Vivaldi, Gloria in D, RV 589

The following playlist offers a preview of the music on the program: