Antonio Vivaldi, was a Venetian composer and violinist, who lived from 1678 to 1741.
He was one of the greatest Baroque composers and is best known for his concertos,
particularly The Four Seasons, which is one of the most popular works of classical music.
Vivaldi spent most of his life in Venice, working at a charitable institution for orphaned girls,
where he composed many of his works. His music is characterized by its virtuosity,
use of vivid programmatic imagery, and expressive melodies.
In this video we bring you 5 amazing facts about Vivaldi that you might have not known before.
NUMBER ONE: He was born during an earthquake.
A large earthquake occurred in Venice on March 4, 1678, the day of his birth.
He was baptized immediately at his home by the midwife, possibly due to fear of another quake.
NUMBER TWO: He was a priest and a violinist. He began studying for priesthood at age 15
and was ordained in 1703. He was nicknamed il Prete Rosso (The Red Priest) because of
his red hair. He also learned to play the violin from his father,
who was a barber and a musician. They often performed together in Venice.
NUMBER THREE: He suffered from asthma. Vivaldi had a chronic respiratory condition
that affected his breathing and stamina. He claimed that this prevented him from saying
mass as a priest. However, it did not stop him from composing and playing music. Some scholars
believe that his asthma influenced his musical style, especially his use of rhythmic patterns.
NUMBER FOUR: Vivaldi's love life is a mystery.
He never married and it is not known if he had any romantic relations.
Some people have speculated that he had a secret affair with his star opera singer Anna Girò,
who was 31 years younger than him and performed in many of his operas. However, Vivaldi denied any
romantic involvement with her and said they were only friends. He also claimed that he remained
celibate as a priest. There is no conclusive evidence to support or refute any of these claims.
NUMBER FIVE: He died in poverty and obscurity.
Vivaldi's popularity declined in his later years as musical tastes changed. He moved to Vienna in
1740, hoping to find patronage from Emperor Charles VI, who admired his music. However,
the emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival and left him without support. Vivaldi died on July 28,
1741, at the age of 63, from an infection and was buried in Vienna, in an unmarked grave. His music
was largely forgotten until the 20th century when it was rediscovered by scholars and performers.
We hope you enjoyed this part, now, let's bring him to life!