Playlist

Antonio Vivaldi is known as the “concerto king” for writing several hundred concertos. But what you may not know is that Vivaldi also wrote operas — nearly 100, according to the composer’s estimate — although only about 50 of them survive. You’ll hear selections from one of Vivaldi’s operas AND one of his concertos this week on Sunday Baroque.

Vying for the same jobs and courting the same patrons, Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann COULD have been rivals, but instead they were friends. In honor of National Friendship Day on Sunday, you’ll hear music by both men as a highlight of Sunday Baroque.

The 2016 Olympics open on August 5th in Rio de Janeiro, and Sunday Baroque will feature musicians engaged in feats of athleticism and competition, as well as an excerpt from Antonio Vivaldi’s Olympic-themed opera.

While you’re relaxing on the weekend Sunday Baroque will provide the perfect soundtrack of a few of the greatest hits of the baroque era, including Antonio Vivaldi’s lively double trumpet concerto and one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s legendary Brandenburg Concertos.

John Dowland composed a dance called MY LADY HUNSDON’S PUFFE. Maybe he meant the huffing and puffing of a dancer, or maybe he was making a joke about a patron being a “windbag”? It’s one of the selections on a new recording from the group Ayreheart, and you can hear it on Sunday Baroque while you’re catching your breath this weekend.

France’s big Bastille Day holiday is on July 14th. It’s the annual commemoration of the start of the Revolution in 1789. Sunday Baroque will mark the occasion with a variety of French music from the baroque era.

As you celebrate the long Fourth of July holiday weekend with parades, fireworks and picnicking, Sunday Baroque will provide accompaniment for your celebration featuring some outstanding musical ensembles around the US. The American ensembles range from coast to coast, including the Baltimore Consort and the Bay Area period instrument group Voices of Music.