Look to the right of the post title to find the orange audio play button to listen to an interview with KMFA's John Clare and Avi Avital about touring, Vivaldi, and his modern mandolin.

Vivaldi is the name Avi Avital's new album, his third on record label Deutsche Grammophon. This album returns his instrument, the mandolin, to its origins - the Venetian Baroque and master composer Antonio Vivaldi. On this new release, Avital captures the mystical spirit of Venice, shedding new light on Vivaldi's musical genius by performing his own transcriptions of the composer's works, and "demonstrating the rock star status that he cultivated in his own time." Avital is joined by the Venice Baroque Orchestra who are on a major North American tour this spring, stopping in Southern California, Miami, Boston and Carnegie Hall, as well as right here in Austin.
 
"Working with the Venice Baroque Orchestra is a great experience," says Avital. "All the players live around Venice and are surrounded by the culture of this unique city. You can hear their incredible understanding of its history in every note."

Learn more about the new release on AviAvital.com, and learn more about their Austin performance on March 5th with Texas Performing Arts. KMFA is a proud media partner for Avi Avatal with the Venice Baroque Orchestra.

Avital recorded this for Antonio Vivaldi's birthday, March 4th: