Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist
1678 CE
to 1741 CE
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741), nicknamed il Prete Rosso ("The Red Priest") because of his red hair, is an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice.
Recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, his influence during his lifetime is widespread over Europe.
Vivaldi is known mainly for composing instrumental concertos, especially for the violin, as well as sacred choral works and over 40 operas.
His best known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons.
Many of his compositions are written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi works from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740.
Vivaldi also has some success with stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna.
After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moves to Vienna hoping for preferment.
The Emperor dies soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and the composer dies a pauper, without a steady source of income.
Though Vivaldi's music is well received during his lifetime, it later declines in popularity until its vigorous revival in the first half of the 20th century.
Today, Vivaldi ranks among the most popular and widely recorded Baroque composers.
