Vivaldi's only concerto for the unusual combination of two cellos was probably, like so many of his concertos, written for the all-girl orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, with which he was associated for some four decades. The tone color of the paired cellos and the minor key help to account for the relatively somber sound of the work. The cellos announce their presence at the very beginning of the energetic opening Allegro, which also features a particularly attractive interlude in the major mode. The solo instruments sometimes harmonize with one another, at other times respond to one another in canonic imitation. After a songful Largo of rather grave beauty, the work concludes with an extroverted Allegro.

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