Antonio Vivaldi, born on March 4, 1678, in Venice, Italy, is one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque era. Vivaldi, also known as "Il Prete Rosso" ("The Red Priest") because of his flaming red hair and his status as an ordained priest, made a significant impact on the development of instrumental music, especially through his virtuosic concertos. His talent was discovered early, and he became a master of the violin as well as a renowned teacher, composer, and conductor at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice for several decades.

Vivaldi's most famous set of concertos, "The Four Seasons," is a pinnacle of programmatic music that vividly represents the changing scenes of each season. He was prolific in his output, having composed more than 500 concertos, as well as numerous sacred choral works, operas, sonatas, and chamber music. Despite his popularity during his lifetime, Vivaldi fell into relative obscurity after his death on July 28, 1741, in Vienna. It was not until the early 20th century that his work was rediscovered, leading to a revival of his music that continues to this day. Through both live performances and recordings such as "Academia: Handel & Vivaldi" and numerous interpretations of "The Four Seasons," Vivaldi's masterful compositions continue to enchant audiences around the world.

Genres

Baroque

Classical

Early Music

Italian Baroque

Related Artists

Johann Sebastian Bach

George Frideric Handel

Arcangelo Corelli

Henry Purcell

Giuseppe Tartini

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Tomaso Albinoni

Domenico Scarlatti

Alessandro Scarlatti

Georg Philipp Telemann

Jean-Baptiste Lully

Francesco Geminiani

Latest Release

Bach & Scarlatti: Cantatas - Albinoni, Vivaldi & Telemann: Concerti

Sir Neville Marriner•

Alessandro Scarlatti•

Antonio Vivaldi•

Georg Philipp Telemann•

Johann Sebastian Bach•

Tomaso Albinoni•

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Album - 31 Tracks - Released November 18, 2024