Antonio Vivaldi's first published set of concertos, called "L'estro armonico," was the most important and influential collection of the first half of the eighteenth century. Published as his Op. 3 in Amsterdam in 1711 by Estienne Roger, "L'estro armonico" (roughly, The Genius of Harmony) was Vivaldi's first published set of concertos, but it completely changed the form from the heavier Roman style of Corelli to the lighter Venetian style that quickly came to dominate all European orchestra music for two generations.

The fifth work in the set is the Concerto in A major, RV 519, a three-movement work for two solo violins concertino, plus orchestral ripieno of violins, violas, cello, and basso continuo. The opening Allegro has a characteristic thumping unison theme for the whole ripieno alternating with progressively faster and more brilliant passages for the two soloists. The central Largo, a lyrical episode for one soloist and ripieno senza basso continuo, opens with a quiet chordal theme senza basso continuo with soloist singing sweetly above it. The closing Presto is a bright and light triple time movement with its main theme given to the cellos and alternating with progressively faster and more difficult solos for both soloists, culminating in an impulsive duo cadenza before the big final cadence.

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