One of the more fertile relationships to blossom in the early 18th century was that between Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi and German violin virtuoso Johann Georg Pisendel (1687-1755). The latter was already a star player in the Dresden orchestra when, in 1716, he rocked up for a year-long sojourn in Venice as part of the retinue of Friedrich Augustus, then Crown Prince of Saxony. While his master was scouting out musicians to lure back home, the violinist took the opportunity to befriend Vivaldi, the city’s leading musical celebrity. 

The works the Crown Prince carried with him on his return to Germany would disseminate Italian music – and Vivaldi’s in particular – across Northern Europe, influencing everyone from Telemann to Bach, but Pisendel’s burgeoning friendship with the Red Priest would lead to something more immediate. Not only did he copy out Vivaldi originals by hand, the Venetian composer gifted him a number of autographs. He even dedicated a series of violin sonatas and concertos “Per Monsieur Pisendel” to his German colleague. And very fine they are too.

Vivaldi is still too often accused of writing the...