In turbato mare irato RV 627

In the late Baroque period solo cantatas were introduced into Catholic services in monuments of relative silence such as between the Psalms at Vespers and during the Offertory at Mass.  The ecclesiastical authorities were none too happy with the introduction of non-liturgical texts but they were much too popular to abolish.  These cantatas gave Vivaldi an opportunity to show off the brilliance of his singers and, by all accounts, the church would be packed with Venetians eager to hear the latest composition from Il prete rossi. In turbato mare irato follows the normal four-movement plan: two da capo arias framing a recitative plus an extended concluding Alleluia, the whole lasting around fifteen minutes. The opening aria with its brilliant coloratura depiction of a storm at sea gives the singer a spectacular opportunity to show her skills, particularly effective in a church acoustic. The second aria is extremely beautiful. The Alleluia provides an exuberant finale.