Mark's Basilica in 1681.Ī redhead like his father, Vivaldi took up the course of attaining a priesthood in 1693 and became ordained in 1703, referred to by those around him as "Il Prete Rosso" because of his red hair. As a youth, touring and performing around Venice in accompaniment on the violin with his father, he is likely to have been influenced by Legrenzi who had become maestro di cappella at St. His father was Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, a founder of the Sovvegno dei musicisti di Santa Cecilia, an early musician's collective, who's President was the Baroque operatic composer and tutor Giovanni Legrenzi. Vivaldi's career as a violinist and composer was almost inevitable. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as "The Four Seasons".
He is known mainly for composing many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas. He is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. Died July 28, 1741, Kärntnertor, Vienna, Austria. Try Renato Fasano's "Virtuosi di Roma" on an bargain-priced EMI double-disc filled out by other concertos by Vivaldi and Corelli, or the always delightful "I Musici" on the Philips label.Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric.īorn March 4, 1678, Sestiere di San Marco, Repùblica Vèneta, Italy.
Or you might listen to one of the Italian chamber orchestras that did so much to reclaim Vivaldi's good name in the 1950s and '60s. It works in all three.įor the intimate approach on modern instruments, try Sir Neville Marriner with violinist Alan Loveday on the new Penguin label. Le Quattro Stagioni" comes in three interpretive "flavors": a small orchestra playing modern instruments, a small ensemble performing on 18th-century instruments or the lush, Technicolor versions employing a larger complement of symphonic strings.
To get to know the work, I'd recommend hearing it in its original format for violin and string orchestra. Indeed, you can find versions of Vivaldi's four celebrated violin concertos arranged for flute, recorder, solo guitar, guitar ensemble, two pianos, brass quintet and even the harp. A staggering array of choices awaits you in the CD bins should you decide to take a "Four Seasons" home with you for repeated listening.
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