La Serenissima | Vivaldi & Italian Baroque
@laserenissimauk.bsky.social
🔥British ambassadors for Vivaldi & Italian Baroque music
🎵'They really put the rock into baroque' @classicfm
💿8+: OUT NOW 🎻🔥
🎵'They really put the rock into baroque' @classicfm
💿8+: OUT NOW 🎻🔥
Gloucester is starting to feel like home 🥰
Last weekend we were in a packed Gloucester Cathedral for Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers. This weekend we are back for Handel’s Messiah with Gloucester Choral Society.
Last weekend we were in a packed Gloucester Cathedral for Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers. This weekend we are back for Handel’s Messiah with Gloucester Choral Society.
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Gloucester is starting to feel like home 🥰
Last weekend we were in a packed Gloucester Cathedral for Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers. This weekend we are back for Handel’s Messiah with Gloucester Choral Society.
Last weekend we were in a packed Gloucester Cathedral for Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers. This weekend we are back for Handel’s Messiah with Gloucester Choral Society.
Want to know where Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 comes from? 🤔
Here’s Adrian with a quick intro 😀
The 1st movement survives in Vivaldi’s own hand in Dresden, inscribed to Pisendel (Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster). The rest of the concerto survives only in the 1725 Amsterdam engraved edition.
Here’s Adrian with a quick intro 😀
The 1st movement survives in Vivaldi’s own hand in Dresden, inscribed to Pisendel (Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster). The rest of the concerto survives only in the 1725 Amsterdam engraved edition.
November 23, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Want to know where Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 comes from? 🤔
Here’s Adrian with a quick intro 😀
The 1st movement survives in Vivaldi’s own hand in Dresden, inscribed to Pisendel (Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster). The rest of the concerto survives only in the 1725 Amsterdam engraved edition.
Here’s Adrian with a quick intro 😀
The 1st movement survives in Vivaldi’s own hand in Dresden, inscribed to Pisendel (Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster). The rest of the concerto survives only in the 1725 Amsterdam engraved edition.
A huge thank you to everyone who has listened to our new album, 8+, this week! We made it into the charts at no. 17 🥳
If you haven't heard it yet.... it's available on all major streaming platforms; or to buy here: https://lnk.to/Vivaldi8Vol2
If you haven't heard it yet.... it's available on all major streaming platforms; or to buy here: https://lnk.to/Vivaldi8Vol2
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A huge thank you to everyone who has listened to our new album, 8+, this week! We made it into the charts at no. 17 🥳
If you haven't heard it yet.... it's available on all major streaming platforms; or to buy here: https://lnk.to/Vivaldi8Vol2
If you haven't heard it yet.... it's available on all major streaming platforms; or to buy here: https://lnk.to/Vivaldi8Vol2
If Vivaldi writes you a concerto, you must be pretty great 💅
Bearing an inscription to Johann Georg Pisendel, Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 (RV 242) opens the 2nd half of the Op. 8 set. Pisendel was Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster in Dresden, where the 1st movement survives in manuscript.
Bearing an inscription to Johann Georg Pisendel, Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 (RV 242) opens the 2nd half of the Op. 8 set. Pisendel was Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster in Dresden, where the 1st movement survives in manuscript.
November 19, 2025 at 8:19 PM
If Vivaldi writes you a concerto, you must be pretty great 💅
Bearing an inscription to Johann Georg Pisendel, Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 (RV 242) opens the 2nd half of the Op. 8 set. Pisendel was Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster in Dresden, where the 1st movement survives in manuscript.
Bearing an inscription to Johann Georg Pisendel, Vivaldi’s Op. 8 No. 7 (RV 242) opens the 2nd half of the Op. 8 set. Pisendel was Vivaldi’s star student & later concertmaster in Dresden, where the 1st movement survives in manuscript.
What was Venice listening to before Vivaldi came along?
Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers, published in Venice, belongs to the same soundworld that shaped the composers you usually hear from us.
Rich choruses, echo effects and vivid solo writing show the city right on the edge of the Baroque.
Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers, published in Venice, belongs to the same soundworld that shaped the composers you usually hear from us.
Rich choruses, echo effects and vivid solo writing show the city right on the edge of the Baroque.
November 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
What was Venice listening to before Vivaldi came along?
Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers, published in Venice, belongs to the same soundworld that shaped the composers you usually hear from us.
Rich choruses, echo effects and vivid solo writing show the city right on the edge of the Baroque.
Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers, published in Venice, belongs to the same soundworld that shaped the composers you usually hear from us.
Rich choruses, echo effects and vivid solo writing show the city right on the edge of the Baroque.
If Vivaldi’s greatest hits is the poster on your wall, 8+ is the album you’ve been missing 🫶
Out today, the second half of Vivaldi’s Op. 8 brings you music from the 1725 Amsterdam publication that isn’t The Four Seasons.
Out today, the second half of Vivaldi’s Op. 8 brings you music from the 1725 Amsterdam publication that isn’t The Four Seasons.
November 14, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If Vivaldi’s greatest hits is the poster on your wall, 8+ is the album you’ve been missing 🫶
Out today, the second half of Vivaldi’s Op. 8 brings you music from the 1725 Amsterdam publication that isn’t The Four Seasons.
Out today, the second half of Vivaldi’s Op. 8 brings you music from the 1725 Amsterdam publication that isn’t The Four Seasons.
Hang on… something doesn’t look quite right here… 🤔
Adrian seems to be playing an awful lot of notes, but Vivaldi’s page shows long ones.
💡 It’s shorthand!
Adrian seems to be playing an awful lot of notes, but Vivaldi’s page shows long ones.
💡 It’s shorthand!
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Hang on… something doesn’t look quite right here… 🤔
Adrian seems to be playing an awful lot of notes, but Vivaldi’s page shows long ones.
💡 It’s shorthand!
Adrian seems to be playing an awful lot of notes, but Vivaldi’s page shows long ones.
💡 It’s shorthand!
Gosh, it’s been a busy few weeks performing & recording with Raffaele la Ragione. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. If you didn’t, the recording is in the bag for a future release 💪
We thought we’d have a quiet one this week… well, almost.
Just the new album out on Friday 14 November...
We thought we’d have a quiet one this week… well, almost.
Just the new album out on Friday 14 November...
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Gosh, it’s been a busy few weeks performing & recording with Raffaele la Ragione. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. If you didn’t, the recording is in the bag for a future release 💪
We thought we’d have a quiet one this week… well, almost.
Just the new album out on Friday 14 November...
We thought we’d have a quiet one this week… well, almost.
Just the new album out on Friday 14 November...
In the middle of Vivaldi’s third movement, someone else’s third movement makes an appearance…
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) Vivaldi gives a sly nod to Johann Paul von Westhoff and his Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”). By “sly nod” we mean he lifts about eleven bars…
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) Vivaldi gives a sly nod to Johann Paul von Westhoff and his Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”). By “sly nod” we mean he lifts about eleven bars…
November 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In the middle of Vivaldi’s third movement, someone else’s third movement makes an appearance…
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) Vivaldi gives a sly nod to Johann Paul von Westhoff and his Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”). By “sly nod” we mean he lifts about eleven bars…
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) Vivaldi gives a sly nod to Johann Paul von Westhoff and his Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”). By “sly nod” we mean he lifts about eleven bars…
One of the best parts of our concerts (sorry, Ade!) is chatting to our wonderful audience 🥰
As the person often at the CD table, the question I get most is: “Have you got this on CD?”
For those of you who came to our recent concerts with @RaffaelelaRagione and asked when we’d be recording…
As the person often at the CD table, the question I get most is: “Have you got this on CD?”
For those of you who came to our recent concerts with @RaffaelelaRagione and asked when we’d be recording…
October 31, 2025 at 7:40 PM
One of the best parts of our concerts (sorry, Ade!) is chatting to our wonderful audience 🥰
As the person often at the CD table, the question I get most is: “Have you got this on CD?”
For those of you who came to our recent concerts with @RaffaelelaRagione and asked when we’d be recording…
As the person often at the CD table, the question I get most is: “Have you got this on CD?”
For those of you who came to our recent concerts with @RaffaelelaRagione and asked when we’d be recording…
Can you hear the bells? 🔔
Vivaldi loved recycling his own ideas and dressing them up in new concertos, but this time he does something different.
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) he nods to Johann Paul von Westhoff’s Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”)…
Vivaldi loved recycling his own ideas and dressing them up in new concertos, but this time he does something different.
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) he nods to Johann Paul von Westhoff’s Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”)…
October 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Can you hear the bells? 🔔
Vivaldi loved recycling his own ideas and dressing them up in new concertos, but this time he does something different.
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) he nods to Johann Paul von Westhoff’s Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”)…
Vivaldi loved recycling his own ideas and dressing them up in new concertos, but this time he does something different.
In the finale of RV 332 (Op. 8 No. 8, G minor) he nods to Johann Paul von Westhoff’s Imitatione delle campane (“Imitation of bells”)…
Mid-chase, the violin solo takes off as if it’s the deer itself, fleeing the rest of the band… 😆
This snippet from Vivaldi’s “La caccia” (Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro) overlays Vivaldi’s own manuscript from Turin, so you can see how many notes he squeezes into such a small space 🎻
This snippet from Vivaldi’s “La caccia” (Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro) overlays Vivaldi’s own manuscript from Turin, so you can see how many notes he squeezes into such a small space 🎻
October 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Mid-chase, the violin solo takes off as if it’s the deer itself, fleeing the rest of the band… 😆
This snippet from Vivaldi’s “La caccia” (Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro) overlays Vivaldi’s own manuscript from Turin, so you can see how many notes he squeezes into such a small space 🎻
This snippet from Vivaldi’s “La caccia” (Op. 8 No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro) overlays Vivaldi’s own manuscript from Turin, so you can see how many notes he squeezes into such a small space 🎻
Ever wondered what a Baroque hunt sounds like? 🤔
Vivaldi’s La caccia (“The Hunt”) from Op. 8 is full of musical secrets: horn calls, “barking” dogs, fleeing deer, and even the moment the wounded beast falls.
What’s fascinating?
Among concertos 7–12, titles are rare — La caccia stands out.
Vivaldi’s La caccia (“The Hunt”) from Op. 8 is full of musical secrets: horn calls, “barking” dogs, fleeing deer, and even the moment the wounded beast falls.
What’s fascinating?
Among concertos 7–12, titles are rare — La caccia stands out.
October 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Ever wondered what a Baroque hunt sounds like? 🤔
Vivaldi’s La caccia (“The Hunt”) from Op. 8 is full of musical secrets: horn calls, “barking” dogs, fleeing deer, and even the moment the wounded beast falls.
What’s fascinating?
Among concertos 7–12, titles are rare — La caccia stands out.
Vivaldi’s La caccia (“The Hunt”) from Op. 8 is full of musical secrets: horn calls, “barking” dogs, fleeing deer, and even the moment the wounded beast falls.
What’s fascinating?
Among concertos 7–12, titles are rare — La caccia stands out.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us in London and Liverpool this week ❤️
It was wonderful to meet so many of you and hear how much you enjoyed the music — and a bonus that Ade was able to play too 😉
It was wonderful to meet so many of you and hear how much you enjoyed the music — and a bonus that Ade was able to play too 😉
October 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us in London and Liverpool this week ❤️
It was wonderful to meet so many of you and hear how much you enjoyed the music — and a bonus that Ade was able to play too 😉
It was wonderful to meet so many of you and hear how much you enjoyed the music — and a bonus that Ade was able to play too 😉
We had a great time playing at St Martin-In-The-Fields last night! Thanks to all who joined us ❤️
And isn’t it lovely to see Ade with a violin again? He’s still recovering from his shoulder injury, but last night he was able to play in public for the first time since July 🥳🎉
And isn’t it lovely to see Ade with a violin again? He’s still recovering from his shoulder injury, but last night he was able to play in public for the first time since July 🥳🎉
October 24, 2025 at 11:04 AM
We had a great time playing at St Martin-In-The-Fields last night! Thanks to all who joined us ❤️
And isn’t it lovely to see Ade with a violin again? He’s still recovering from his shoulder injury, but last night he was able to play in public for the first time since July 🥳🎉
And isn’t it lovely to see Ade with a violin again? He’s still recovering from his shoulder injury, but last night he was able to play in public for the first time since July 🥳🎉
Here's Ade with bit of background to Vivaldi's Solo Mandolin Concerto, speaking at our recent concert at @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton.
We're really looking forward to reuniting with Raffaele La Ragione for more mandolin music very soon ⬇️
We're really looking forward to reuniting with Raffaele La Ragione for more mandolin music very soon ⬇️
October 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Here's Ade with bit of background to Vivaldi's Solo Mandolin Concerto, speaking at our recent concert at @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton.
We're really looking forward to reuniting with Raffaele La Ragione for more mandolin music very soon ⬇️
We're really looking forward to reuniting with Raffaele La Ragione for more mandolin music very soon ⬇️
When you think of “the hunt”, what comes to mind?
Horns? Guns? Dogs? The drumming of horses’ hooves? A deer fleeing? 🦌
You should hear all of these in our new single, out today:
Vivaldi's “La caccia”, Op. 8, No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro.
Horns? Guns? Dogs? The drumming of horses’ hooves? A deer fleeing? 🦌
You should hear all of these in our new single, out today:
Vivaldi's “La caccia”, Op. 8, No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro.
October 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
When you think of “the hunt”, what comes to mind?
Horns? Guns? Dogs? The drumming of horses’ hooves? A deer fleeing? 🦌
You should hear all of these in our new single, out today:
Vivaldi's “La caccia”, Op. 8, No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro.
Horns? Guns? Dogs? The drumming of horses’ hooves? A deer fleeing? 🦌
You should hear all of these in our new single, out today:
Vivaldi's “La caccia”, Op. 8, No. 10, RV 362: I. Allegro.
Look at that tidy print 😍
This comes from the 1st printed edition of Vivaldi’s Op. 8, published in Amsterdam, 1725 by Michel-Charles Le Cène as part of Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione (“The Contest between Harmony & Invention”).
This is the third movement of the eleventh concerto and...
This comes from the 1st printed edition of Vivaldi’s Op. 8, published in Amsterdam, 1725 by Michel-Charles Le Cène as part of Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione (“The Contest between Harmony & Invention”).
This is the third movement of the eleventh concerto and...
October 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Look at that tidy print 😍
This comes from the 1st printed edition of Vivaldi’s Op. 8, published in Amsterdam, 1725 by Michel-Charles Le Cène as part of Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione (“The Contest between Harmony & Invention”).
This is the third movement of the eleventh concerto and...
This comes from the 1st printed edition of Vivaldi’s Op. 8, published in Amsterdam, 1725 by Michel-Charles Le Cène as part of Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’invenzione (“The Contest between Harmony & Invention”).
This is the third movement of the eleventh concerto and...
One concerto; two quite different versions.
Adrian is back to talk about Vivaldi’s love of recycling: not only reusing great melodies in different works, but sometimes replacing huge chunks of a piece with new ideas.
Adrian is back to talk about Vivaldi’s love of recycling: not only reusing great melodies in different works, but sometimes replacing huge chunks of a piece with new ideas.
October 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
One concerto; two quite different versions.
Adrian is back to talk about Vivaldi’s love of recycling: not only reusing great melodies in different works, but sometimes replacing huge chunks of a piece with new ideas.
Adrian is back to talk about Vivaldi’s love of recycling: not only reusing great melodies in different works, but sometimes replacing huge chunks of a piece with new ideas.
Enjoying the first single from our upcoming 8+?
Or were you one of the lucky ones who picked up a copy at the weekend & enjoying the whole thing? 😉
Here’s Ade to talk about his favourite concerto from Op. 8 - No. 11. It is actually much harder than The Four Seasons… but let’s keep that between us.
Or were you one of the lucky ones who picked up a copy at the weekend & enjoying the whole thing? 😉
Here’s Ade to talk about his favourite concerto from Op. 8 - No. 11. It is actually much harder than The Four Seasons… but let’s keep that between us.
October 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Enjoying the first single from our upcoming 8+?
Or were you one of the lucky ones who picked up a copy at the weekend & enjoying the whole thing? 😉
Here’s Ade to talk about his favourite concerto from Op. 8 - No. 11. It is actually much harder than The Four Seasons… but let’s keep that between us.
Or were you one of the lucky ones who picked up a copy at the weekend & enjoying the whole thing? 😉
Here’s Ade to talk about his favourite concerto from Op. 8 - No. 11. It is actually much harder than The Four Seasons… but let’s keep that between us.
If you missed our concerts at the weekend… this is what you missed 😍
The beautiful 2nd movement from Bigaglia’s Concerto for Mandolin. It’s really for oboe, but there isn’t much surviving mandolin rep so we’ve pinched it and the mandolin sounds lush. ❤️
The beautiful 2nd movement from Bigaglia’s Concerto for Mandolin. It’s really for oboe, but there isn’t much surviving mandolin rep so we’ve pinched it and the mandolin sounds lush. ❤️
October 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
If you missed our concerts at the weekend… this is what you missed 😍
The beautiful 2nd movement from Bigaglia’s Concerto for Mandolin. It’s really for oboe, but there isn’t much surviving mandolin rep so we’ve pinched it and the mandolin sounds lush. ❤️
The beautiful 2nd movement from Bigaglia’s Concerto for Mandolin. It’s really for oboe, but there isn’t much surviving mandolin rep so we’ve pinched it and the mandolin sounds lush. ❤️
Look who’s back in town! 🥳
We’re in rehearsal today ahead of our first autumn concert with Raffaele la Ragione (no mandolin emoji… an oversight, surely 🤔).
If you haven’t got tickets for @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton, we’d love to see you tomorrow, Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm.
We’re in rehearsal today ahead of our first autumn concert with Raffaele la Ragione (no mandolin emoji… an oversight, surely 🤔).
If you haven’t got tickets for @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton, we’d love to see you tomorrow, Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm.
October 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Look who’s back in town! 🥳
We’re in rehearsal today ahead of our first autumn concert with Raffaele la Ragione (no mandolin emoji… an oversight, surely 🤔).
If you haven’t got tickets for @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton, we’d love to see you tomorrow, Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm.
We’re in rehearsal today ahead of our first autumn concert with Raffaele la Ragione (no mandolin emoji… an oversight, surely 🤔).
If you haven’t got tickets for @turnersims.bsky.social, Southampton, we’d love to see you tomorrow, Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm.
Celebrating the start of Autumn 🍂 with... the start of Autumn 🎶
Happy Autumn Equinox!
🎻 Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima
Happy Autumn Equinox!
🎻 Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima
September 22, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Celebrating the start of Autumn 🍂 with... the start of Autumn 🎶
Happy Autumn Equinox!
🎻 Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima
Happy Autumn Equinox!
🎻 Adrian Chandler and La Serenissima
Have you had a chance to catch up with our latest news yet?
August's (belated!) newsletter included a message from Ade explaining all about his recent injury and recovery.
📩 Head to your inbox to read the rest...
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here: https://www.laserenissima.co.uk/
August's (belated!) newsletter included a message from Ade explaining all about his recent injury and recovery.
📩 Head to your inbox to read the rest...
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here: https://www.laserenissima.co.uk/
September 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Have you had a chance to catch up with our latest news yet?
August's (belated!) newsletter included a message from Ade explaining all about his recent injury and recovery.
📩 Head to your inbox to read the rest...
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here: https://www.laserenissima.co.uk/
August's (belated!) newsletter included a message from Ade explaining all about his recent injury and recovery.
📩 Head to your inbox to read the rest...
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here: https://www.laserenissima.co.uk/
Happy birthday to the composer of this piece, Zavateri! 🥳
🎂 Born on this day in Bologna, Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri (8 September 1690 – 1764) was an Italian baroque violinist and composer.
🎻 This is the opening of his Introducione in G Major, recorded for our album 'Forza Azzurri!'
🎂 Born on this day in Bologna, Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri (8 September 1690 – 1764) was an Italian baroque violinist and composer.
🎻 This is the opening of his Introducione in G Major, recorded for our album 'Forza Azzurri!'
September 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Happy birthday to the composer of this piece, Zavateri! 🥳
🎂 Born on this day in Bologna, Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri (8 September 1690 – 1764) was an Italian baroque violinist and composer.
🎻 This is the opening of his Introducione in G Major, recorded for our album 'Forza Azzurri!'
🎂 Born on this day in Bologna, Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri (8 September 1690 – 1764) was an Italian baroque violinist and composer.
🎻 This is the opening of his Introducione in G Major, recorded for our album 'Forza Azzurri!'