The creator of hundreds of spirited, extroverted instrumental works, Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi is widely recognized as the master of the Baroque instrumental concerto, which he perfected and popularized more than any of his contemporaries. Vivaldi's kinetic rhythms, fluid melodies, bright instrumental effects, and extensions of instrumental technique make his some of the most enjoyable of Baroque music. He was highly influential among his Read more contemporaries and successors: even as esteemed a figure as Johann Sebastian Bach adapted some of Vivaldi's music. Vivaldi's variable textures and dramatic effects initiated the shift toward what became the Classical style; a deeper understanding of his music begins with the realization that, compared with Bach and even Handel, he was Baroque music's arch progressive. Though not as familiar as his concerti, Vivaldi's stage and choral music is still of value; his sometimes bouncy, sometimes lyrical Gloria in D major (1708) has remained a perennial favorite. His operas were widely performed in his own time.
Details regarding Vivaldi's early life are few. His father was a violinist in the Catherdral of Venice's orchestra and probably Antonio's first teacher. There is much speculation about other teachers, such as Corelli, but no evidence to support this. Vivaldi studied for the priesthood as a young man and was ordained in 1703. He was known for much of his career as "il prete rosso" (the red-haired priest), but soon after his ordination he declined to take on his ecclesiastical duties. Later in life he cited ill health as the reason, but other motivations have been proposed; perhaps Vivaldi simply wanted to explore new opportunties as a composer. It didn't take him long. Landing a job as a violin teacher at a girls' orphanage in Venice (where he would work in one capacity or another during several stretches of his life), he published a set of trio sonatas and another of violin sonatas. Word of his abilities spread around Europe, and in 1711 an Amsterdam publisher brought out, under the title L'estro armonico (Harmonic Inspiration), a set of Vivaldi's concertos for one or more violins with orchestra. These were best sellers (it was this group of concertos that spurred Bach's transcriptions), and Vivaldi followed them up with several more equally successful concerto sets. Perhaps the most prolific of all the great European composers, he once boasted that he could compose a concerto faster than a copyist could ready the individual parts for the players in the orchestra. He began to compose operas, worked from 1718 to 1720 in the court of the German principality of Hessen-Darmstadt, and traveled in Austria and perhaps Bohemia. Throughout his career, he had his choice of commissions from nobility and the highest members of society, the ability to use the best performers, and enough business savvy to try to control the publication of his works, although due to his popularity, many were published without his consent. Later in life Vivaldi was plagued by rumors of a sexual liaison with one of his vocal students, and he was censured by ecclesiastical authorities. His Italian career on the rocks, he headed for Vienna. He died there and was buried as a pauper in 1741, although at the height of his career his publications had earned a comfortable living. Read less

Featured Antonio Vivaldi CDs & DVDs:

Vivaldi: Concerti, Op. 8 / Beznosiuk, The Avison Ensemble

Release Date: 06/22/2018 Label: Linn Records
Catalog: 365 Number of Discs: 2

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Vivaldi: Four Seasons, Etc / Nishizaki, Gunzenhauser

Release Date: 06/30/1992 Label: Naxos
Catalog: 8550056 Number of Discs: 1

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Four Seasons/Cto Winds:vivaldi

Release Date: 01/04/1996 Label: Naxos
Catalog: 8553219 Number of Discs: 1

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The Best Of Vivaldi

Release Date: 09/15/1997 Label: Naxos
Catalog: 8556655 Number of Discs: 1

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Vivaldi: Cello Concerti Vol 2 / Wallfisch, Kraemer

Release Date: 05/23/1995 Label: Naxos
Catalog: 8550908 Number of Discs: 1

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Work: Concerto for 2 Mandolins in G major, RV 532

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Julian Lloyd Webber - A Span of Time

Label: Naxos Catalog: 8504053 Release Date: 04/13/2018 Number of Discs: 4
Composer: Frederick Delius, John Ireland, Sir Edward Elgar, William Lloyd Webber ...
Performer: Julian Lloyd Webber, John Lenehan, Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, Guy Johnston ...
Conductor: Hans-Peter Hofmann
Orchestra/Ensemble: English Chamber Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra
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Bach & Vivaldi for Mandolin / Frati, Mandolin Orchestra Mauro e Claudio Terroni

Label: Dynamic Catalog: 7787 Release Date: 04/28/2017 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Dorina Frati, Silvia Tenchini, Grazia Maugeri, Monica Baronio ...
Conductor: Dorina Frati
Orchestra/Ensemble: Mandolin Orchestra Mauro e Claudio Terroni

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Vivaldi: Concerti / Biondi, Europa Galante

Label: Erato Catalog: 559988 Release Date: 03/24/2017 Number of Discs: 9
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Fabio Biondi, Giangiacomo Pinardi, Giovanni Scaramuzzino, Sonia Maurer ...
Conductor: Fabio Biondi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Europa Galante

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Vivaldi Edition

Label: Brilliant Classics Catalog: 94840 Release Date: 11/18/2014 Number of Discs: 66
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, John Dowland, Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Federico Guglielmo, Roberto Loreggian, Mario Folena, Stefania Marusi ...
Conductor: Federico Guglielmo, Federico Maria Sardelli, Krijn Koetsveld, Rinaldo Alessandrini ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: L'Arte dell'Arco, Modo Antiquo Ensemble, Anciuti Ensemble ...
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Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Cellos / Julian & Jiaxin Lloyd Webber

Label: Naxos Catalog: 573374 Release Date: 10/14/2014 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Astor Piazzolla
Performer: Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber
Conductor: Hans-Peter Hofmann
Orchestra/Ensemble: European Union Chamber Orchestra
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Pepe Romero - Master of the Guitar [11-CD Set]

Label: Decca Catalog: 002012902 Release Date: 03/11/2014 Number of Discs: 11
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Luigi Boccherini, Ferdinando Carulli ...
Performer: Pepe Romero, Angel Romero, Christine Pendrill, Agustin Leon Ara ...
Conductor: Iona Brown, Sir Neville Marriner
Orchestra/Ensemble: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ens., Los Romeros

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Il Progetto Vivaldi, Vol. 3 / Sol Gabetta

Label: Sony Catalog: 795350 Release Date: 10/29/2013 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Giovanni Benedetto Platti, Fortunato Chelleri, Andrea Zani
Performer: Sol Gabetta, Andrés Gabetta
Conductor: Andrés Gabetta
Orchestra/Ensemble: Cappella Gabetta

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Vivaldi: Concertos

Label: Naive Catalog: 30542 Release Date: 10/30/2012 Number of Discs: 6
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Sergio Azzolini, Christophe Coin, Sébastien Marq, Anne-Katharina Schreiber ...
Conductor: Giovanni Antonini, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Gottfried Von der Goltz
Orchestra/Ensemble: L'Aura Soave, Il Giardino Armonico, Concerto Italiano ...
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Stravaganza - Vivaldi: 55 Concertos / Pinnock, English Concert [7-CD Collector's Edition]

Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg) Catalog: 001676702 Release Date: 05/08/2012 Number of Discs: 7
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Simon Standage, Trevor Pinnock, Lisa Beznosiuk, David Reichenberg ...
Conductor: Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble: English Concert
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Il Giardino Armonico

Label: Warner Classics Catalog: 632642 Release Date: 05/31/2011 Number of Discs: 11
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi, Dario Castello, Ottavio Dantone, Giovanni Battista Spadi ...
Performer: Ottavio Dantone, Enrico Onofri, Luca Pianca
Conductor: Giovanni Antonini
Orchestra/Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico, Innsbruck Trumpet Consort
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Essential Vivaldi

Label: Brilliant Classics Catalog: 94136 Release Date: 02/01/2011 Number of Discs: 10
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Enrico Casazza, Erik Bosgraaf, Roberto Loreggian, Heinz Holliger ...
Conductor: Federico Guglielmo, Pieter-Jan Leusink
Orchestra/Ensemble: La Magnifica Comunità, Cordevento, L'Arte dell'Arco ...

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Vivaldi: Music for Lute and Mandolin / Paul O'Dette

Label: Hyperion Catalog: 30027 Release Date: 10/12/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Roy Goodman, Paul O'Dette, Robin Jeffrey
Conductor: Peter Holman
Orchestra/Ensemble: Parley of Instruments
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Vivaldi: Mandolin & Lute Concertos / Guglielmo, L'arte Dell'arco

Label: Brilliant Classics Catalog: 93810 Release Date: 10/05/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Mauro Squillante, Davide Rebuffa, Pietro Prosser, Diego Cantalupi ...
Conductor: Federico Guglielmo
Orchestra/Ensemble: L'Arte dell'Arco
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Vivaldi: Concertos Pour Mandoline / Lislevand

Label: Naive Catalog: 5243 Release Date: 07/27/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Thor Harald Johnsen, Brigitte Taubl, Balázs Maté, Thomas Boysen ...

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Vivaldi: Concertos & Other Works / Fisk, Hand, Schulman

Label: Nimbus Catalog: 2515 Release Date: 03/10/2009 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Eliot Fisk, Albert Fuller, Frederic Hand, Louise Schulman
Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestra of St. Luke's
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Vivaldi: Concerti / Söllscher, Füri, Camerata Bern

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 415487 Release Date: 11/06/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Göran Söllscher, Patrick Genet, Thomas Demenga, Regula Häusler ...
Conductor: Thomas Füri
Orchestra/Ensemble: Camerata Bern
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Vivaldi: Mandolin, Violin, Flute Concertos / London Musici

Label: Conifer Catalog: 15909 Release Date: 07/30/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Kenneth Smith, Sue Massop, Nigel Woodhouse, Lyn Fletcher
Conductor: Mark Stephenson
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Musici
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Vivaldi: Concerti "Alla Rustica" / Pinnock, English Concert

Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg) Catalog: 415674 Release Date: 06/04/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: David Reichenberg, Simon Standage, Elizabeth Wilcock, James Tyler ...
Conductor: Trevor Pinnock
Orchestra/Ensemble: English Concert
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19.

Vivaldi's Greatest Hits / Bernstein, Ny Phil, Et Al

Label: Cbs Composers'greatest Hits Catalog: 45810 Release Date: 02/15/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Patrice Fontanarosa, Lorin Maazel, Régis Pasquier, John Corigliano Sr. ...
Conductor: Lorin Maazel, Leonard Bernstein, Pinchas Zukerman, Jean-Claude Malgoire ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Instrumental Ensemble, New York Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra ...

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20.

Vivaldi: Concerti Per Liuto E Mandolino / Il Giardino Armonico

Label: Teldec Catalog: 4698542 Release Date: 11/12/2007 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico

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21.

Vivaldi Concertos & Other Works

Label: Musical Heritage Society Catalog: 5637288054 Release Date: 10/10/2006 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Eliot Fisk, Louise Schulman, Albert Fuller, Frederic Hand

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22.

Hecho En Salamanca

Label: Fermata Publications Catalog: 5637289394 Release Date: 11/08/2005 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Manuel de Falla, Emiliano Pardo-Tristán, Antonio Vivaldi, Elcio De Sá ...

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23.

Vivaldi: Mandolin Concertos / Orlandi, Frati, Scimone

Label: Apex Catalog: 4612642 Release Date: 05/03/2004 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Ugo Orlandi, Dorina Frati
Conductor: Claudio Scimone
Orchestra/Ensemble: I Solisti Veneti

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24.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Janigro, I Solisti Di Zagreb

Label: Vanguard Catalog: 1188 Release Date: 08/12/2003 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Daniel Thune, Anton Heiller, Jelka Stanic, Rudolf Klepac ...
Conductor: Antonio Janigro
Orchestra/Ensemble: I Solisti di Zagreb

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25.

The Artistry Of Eliot Fisk

Label: Musical Heritage Society Catalog: 5637288056 Release Date: 06/10/2003 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Niccolò Paganini, Antonio Vivaldi, Stephen Foster, Girolamo Frescobaldi ...
Performer: Eliot Fisk, Paula Robison, Louise Schulman, Albert Fuller ...

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