Concerto for Two Violoncellos, Strings, and Basso Continuo in G Minor, RV 531

Throughout his life, Antonio Vivaldi wrote almost thirty instrumental works that use the cello as a solo instrument. Vivaldi knew how to tailor his music to the cello and, in doing so, helped to establish this still-young instrument in the music of that time. The Concerto RV 531 is the only double concerto in Vivaldi's œuvre for two solo violoncellos. The two solo parts take centre stage with virtuosic passages but lie on the instrument so well that they can be comfortably mastered by advanced students. The edition is based on the careful evaluation of Vivaldi's autograph score, which is the main source, and several inconsistencies found in previous editions have been clarified. At the same time, the edition allows for a flexible realization of this concerto: it can be performed by a full tutti orchestra or by one performer per part. The cello part in the basso continuo group can be played by orchestral cellists or by the soloists.