In the seventeenth century, the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice took in young orphan girls who received advanced musical instruction. The concerts given there attracted visitors from all over the world, curious to hear these divine voices which remained invisible, since the girls performed hidden behind the grilles of the chapel gallery. Vivaldi became Maestro de’ Concerti of the Pietà in 1714, and it was his pupils who performed his famous Nisi Dominus. Today they are succeeded by the mezzo-soprano Eva Zaïcik, who brings out the full poignancy of the aria ‘Cum dederit’. Another motet by Vivaldi, Invicti bellate, also composed for the Pietà, features in this program planned and conducted by Vincent Dumestre. He invites us on a musical journey centered on the figure of woman and on divine praise, with composers awaiting discovery such as Serafino Razzi (1534-1619) and Soto de Langa (1531-1611).

Ingenuity and variety characterise Locatelli's concertos. His Introduttioni teatrali are a veritable firework of musical ideas, contrasts and effects; his Concerti grossi showcase the virtuosity of the soloists. This recording realises the concerti in a small ensemble. This was Locatelli's intention, who played with local ensembles on his travels: an interplay of highly virtuosic, demanding solo passages and simpler tutti passages. The Thuringian Bach Collegium follows on stylistically from the highly acclaimed release of the concertos of Prince Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar and continues the series of recordings on audite.