Accompanied by the early music ensemble Accademia Bizantina, French contralto Delphine Galou sings Antonio Vivaldi’s “Salve Regina, RV 618“, a sacred motet composed around 1720. This performance was recorded at the Rocchetta Mattei, a fortress located on the Northern Apennine Mountains, on a hill that is 407 meters (1,335 feet) above sea level, in the locality of Savignano in the municipality of Grizzana Morandi, in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy. “Musica sacra per alto” is Accademia Bizantina and Delphine Galou’s recording that was released on May 31, 2019, on the label Naïve Classique / The Vivaldi Edition.
Performed by:
- Delphine Galou – contralto
- Ottavio Dantone – conductor and harpsichord
- Alessandro Tampieri – concertmaster
- ACCADEMIA BIZANTINA
- Mauro Massa, Lisa Ferguson, Maria Grokhotova – violins I
- Ana Liz Ojeda, Heriberto Delgado, Maria Cristina Vasi – violins II
- Diego Mecca, Alice Bisanti – altos
- Mauro Valli, Paolo Ballanti – cellos
- Nicola Dal Maso – double bass
- Tiziano Bagnati – lute
- Elisabeth Baumer, Rei Ishizaka – oboes and flutes
- Luca Marzana, Jonathan Pia – trumpets
- Francesco Zanotto Strumenti – harpsichord and organ
- A Film by Daniele Quadrelli
- Creative Director: Luca Ragazzini
- Art Director: Sabrina Poli
- Styling: Fabio Mercurio
- Makeup: Barbara Braghittoni
- Camera: Saverio Femia
- Social media management: Roberta Romagnoli
- Production coordinator: Stefania Fabbri
- Administration: Laura Crippa
- Location: Rocchetta Mattei
Antonio Vivaldi’s Salve Regina, RV 618
“Salve Regina, RV 618” is a sacred motet composed by Antonio Vivaldi, an Italian Baroque composer renowned for his contributions to the development of the concerto form and for his operas and sacred music. The piece is set to the Latin text of the “Salve Regina,” a Marian hymn that has been part of the Christian liturgical tradition since the Middle Ages. The hymn is traditionally sung or recited in honor of the Virgin Mary.
The RV 618 catalog number comes from the Ryom-Verzeichnis (Ryom Catalogue), a comprehensive catalog of Vivaldi’s works compiled by the musicologist Peter Ryom. The catalog organizes Vivaldi’s compositions by genre and provides a unique identifier (RV number) for each piece.
“Salve Regina, RV 618” is composed for alto solo, strings, and basso continuo. It is characterized by its emotive depth, lyrical melodies, and the rich interplay between the solo voice and the instrumental ensemble. The work is structured in several movements, each corresponding to a verse of the “Salve Regina” hymn. The text expresses a plea for mercy and guidance from the Virgin Mary, reflecting themes of devotion, protection, and intercession.
Vivaldi’s setting of the “Salve Regina” is noted for its expressive beauty and the way it captures the spiritual fervor of the text. The composition showcases Vivaldi’s mastery of vocal writing, his ability to convey emotional states through music, and his innovative use of the Baroque orchestra.
This motet is one of several sacred works by Vivaldi that contribute to his reputation as a key figure in Baroque religious music. Although Vivaldi is best known for his instrumental compositions, such as “The Four Seasons,” his vocal and sacred music, including works like “Salve Regina, RV 618,” holds a significant place in his oeuvre and in the Baroque sacred music repertoire.
Sources
- Salve Regina in G minor, RV 618 (Vivaldi, Antonio) on the International Music Score Library Project website
- Delphine Galou on Wikipedia
- Accademia Bizantina’s official website
- Rocchetta Mattei on Wikipedia
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