Antonio Vivaldi's Opus IV consists of a collection of a dozen concertos for violin, string orchestra, and basso continuo grouped under the title La Stravaganza (The Extravaganza), owing to Vivaldi's use of unusual and sometimes daring melodic and harmonic twists. The second concerto in the set is in the rock & roll key of E minor, and its opening Allegro carries on with a strongly rhythmic and intently industrious feel. The opening tutti moves forward with a motoric drive during which the ensemble's two groups of violins often engage in a dialogue. The solo violin enters with figural passagework, and behind that the violins and violas mark repeated chords, with the second tutti raising its voice suddenly at one point.

In the second movement Largo, sustained harmony in the ensemble frames an introspective and lyrical cantilena that the soloist projects over a discreet accompaniment. The concluding Allegro returns to the industrious mood of the first movement, but with a renewed sense of dark, stormy fierceness. Groups of strings talk to one another as in the opening tutti, and a triplet-driven motif arises suddenly and puts an unexpected spin on the proceedings. These combined elements drive the work toward its conclusion.

Vivaldi was reputedly proud of his flaming red hair and virtuoso skill with the violin; this concerto, more than most others, seems designed in particular to impress the ladies. With its virile, driving first movement, meltingly lyrical second, and dazzling third movement, Vivaldi's E minor Concerto from La Stravaganza is an exemplification ofs the allure his music held for early eighteenth century Italian audiences, and to some degree reveals something about Vivaldi's own cocky, seductive personality.

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