Flute Concerto in G minor 'La notte', RV 439
by Antonio Vivaldi
One of Vivaldi's most atmospheric and inventive concertos, 'La notte' (The Night) from Op. 10 No. 2 evokes darkness, dreams, and ghostly apparitions through novel harmonic language and pictorial writing unusual even by the standards of programme music. Its six movements — Largo, Fantasmi, Largo, Presto, Il sonno, Allegro — alternate turbulent gestures with slow, eerie nocturnal music. The 'Fantasmi' (Phantoms) movement is among the most dramatic passages in Baroque orchestral literature.
Editions
Ricordi
Angelo Ephrikian, 1948
Standard 20th-century performing edition; long the default text for orchestral and chamber performances.
Bärenreiter
Winfried Michel, 1991
Critical edition based on the Dresden manuscript sources, with ornament realisations and continuo realisation.
Breitkopf & Härtel
Friedrich Neumann, 1965
Urtext edition with a practical realised continuo part; useful for small ensemble and recital performances.