Sinfonia for ‘Il coro delle muse’ in G major / VIVALDI RV 149 (Autograph score)

For strings and basso continuo I. Allegro molto (0:00) II. Andante (1:50) III. Allegro (4:15) Composed: most likely 1740 Source: D-Dl (SLUB Dresden) Mus. 2389-O-4 On the evening of 21 March 1740, the Pietà hosted a sumptuous concert in honour of Saxon prince-elector Friedrich Christian (1722–63), then sojourning in Venice. According to Karl Heller, quoting from the prince’s diary, ‘the hall was decorated “with gold brocade and magnificent damask with frills, with candle-holding crystal chandeliers, and with numerous great torches”; “the canal leading from the Riva to the aforementioned holy place was illuminated by torches”, and for the performance of the homage serenata, ``Il coro delle muse´´ by Carlo Goldoni (libretto) and Gennaro D’Alessandro (music), a “beautiful stage with a pleasing set piece showing the choir of muses was erected.”’ The prince’s appreciation: the instruments were best, and the last concerto for two violins was very pretty (‘très