Antonio Vivaldi

A big earthquake struck Venice on the day of his birth, March 4, 1678.¹⁾

Antonio learned to play the violin from his father, a professional violinist who also happened to be a barber. Playing violin together, father and son explored Venice. ²⁾

He began his studies to become a priest at the age of 15, earning the moniker Il prêt Rosso, or The Red Priest. It's thought that his red hair, which was a family feature, was to blame. ³⁾

Vivaldi suffered from asthma, which reduced his ability to deliver Mass but allowed him to devote more time to compose music.⁴⁾

He composed several of his greatest compositions while working as a master violinist at the Ospedale della Pieta, a shelter for abandoned children, for over 30 years. A trade was taught to the lads. The orphaned girls were given skilled musical training and were able to join the chorus and orchestra. Their performances were well respected all around the region. ⁵⁾

The Four Seasons (1723), a classic collection of four violin concertos, is regarded as an exemplary example of program music. Each concerto is accompanied by a textual description and presents a scenario suited for each season. ⁶⁾

Vivaldi's music was a favorite of J.S. Bach. Several of Vivaldi's concerti were transcribed for piano, strings, organ, and harpsichord by him. ⁷⁾

Vivaldi composed 500 concertos, 90 sonatas, 46 operas, as well as a huge collection of religious choral pieces and chamber music. ⁸⁾

Vivaldi was tasked with writing music for European aristocracy and nobles. Gloria, a well-known Cantata, was composed for the celebration of Louis XV's marriage in 1725. Vivaldi received the title of knight from Emperor Charles VI of Vienna, and further pieces were written for the birth of the French royal princesses. ⁹⁾

Vivaldi moved to Vienna at the request of Charles VI, who died soon after, leaving Vivaldi without a patron. However, he was obliged to sell his songs in order to survive because his music did not keep up with the times.¹⁰⁾

Vivaldi, unfortunately, died a pauper and was buried in a humble grave. Only the peeling of bells at St. Stephen's Cathedral marked the departure of the renowned musician, who was not even given music at his own burial.¹¹⁾

The young musician Joseph Haydn, who worked at the cathedral, had nothing to do with the funeral because no music was played.¹²⁾

It took until 1926 for his whole musical oeuvre to be accomplished. Dr. Alberto Gentili, a music historian at the University of Turin, uncovered a vast collection of manuscripts in a Piedmont boarding school and meticulously examined and purchased them.¹³⁾

By 1951, London had hosted the magnificent postwar Festival of Britain, which included a concert season devoted almost entirely to the baroque master, solidifying his place in music history.¹⁴⁾

The most recent discovery of a lost work, Vivaldi's opera Argippo, which was last performed in 1730, took place in 2006.¹⁵⁾