Video Pick of the Week: Sharon Isbin Plays Vivaldi with New York’s Salomé Chamber Orchestra

Here’s a wonderful mood elevator: The always magnificent Sharon Isbin performing the “Allegro” from Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in D Major RV 93 with the Salomé Chamber Orchestra in Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago.

This is one of just four works that Vivaldi (1678-1741) wrote for lute—when it was penned in the 1730s, it was for lute, two violins and basso continuo, but in modern times it is almost always performed with a string orchestra. A number of classical guitarists have recorded the short three-movement work through the years, including Isbin, John Williams, and both Pepe and Angel Romero, to name a few.

And because we don’t want to leave you hanging with just the opening movement, here are links to the famous second movement (labeled “Andante” on the video, but usually billed as “Largo”) and the final “Allegro” (which nicely shows the entire 15-piece chamber orchestra in action).