Antonio Vivaldi

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Biography

Born: Mar 4, 1678; Italy   Died: Jul 28, 1741; Austria   Period: Baroque
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: Ottone In Villa / Hickox, Argento, Gritton, Et Al
Vivaldi: Ottone In Villa / Hickox, Argento, Gritton, Et Al
Release Date: 03/17/1998   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 614   Number of Discs: 2
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Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni; Guido / Guglielmo, Et Al
Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni; Guido / Guglielmo, Et Al
Release Date: 05/18/2004   Label: Cpo  
Catalog: 777037   Number of Discs: 1
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Vivaldi And Others: Andromeda Liberata / Andrea Marcon, Venice Baroque Orchestra
Vivaldi And Others: Andromeda Liberata / Andrea Marcon, Venice Baroque Orchestra
Release Date: 11/09/2004   Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg)  
Catalog: 4770982   Number of Discs: 2
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Vivaldi: Tito Manlio / Sardelli, Modo Antiquo
Vivaldi: Tito Manlio / Sardelli, Modo Antiquo
Release Date: 01/17/2006   Label: Cpo  
Catalog: 777096   Number of Discs: 3
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Vivaldi: Tito Manlio / Accademia Bizantina, Dantone
Vivaldi: Tito Manlio / Accademia Bizantina, Dantone
Release Date: 01/17/2006   Label: Naive  
Catalog: 30413   Number of Discs: 3
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Work: Concerto for 2 Mandolins in G major, RV 532

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  • 1.
    John Williams: The Complete Columbia Album Collection [58 CD + 1 DVD]
    John Williams: The Complete Columbia Album Collection [58 CD + 1 DVD]
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 309294 Release Date: 03/04/2016   Number of Discs: 59
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Isaac Albeniz,  Francisco Tarrega,  Joaquin Turina  ... 
    Performer:  John Williams,  Julian Bream,  Carlos Bonell,  Brian Gascoigne  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Charles Groves,  Daniel Barenboim,  John Williams,  Louis Frémaux  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra,  London Sinfonietta,  String Orchestra  ... 
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  • 2.
    Vivaldi Edition
    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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  • 3.
    Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Cellos / Julian & Jiaxin Lloyd Webber
    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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  • 4.
    Pepe Romero - Master of the Guitar [11-CD Set]
    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
    CD: $68.99
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  • 5.
    Il Progetto Vivaldi, Vol. 3 / Sol Gabetta
    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
    CD: $12.99
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  • 6.
    Vivaldi: Concertos
    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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    CD: $24.99
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  • 7.
    Stravaganza - Vivaldi: 55 Concertos / Pinnock, English Concert [7-CD Collector's Edition]
    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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  • 8.
    Vivaldi Masterworks [28 Disc Set]
    Vivaldi Masterworks [28 Disc Set]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001599302 Release Date: 09/20/2011   Number of Discs: 28
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Rohan de Saram,  Franco Gulli,  Salvatore Accardo,  Bruno Canino  ... 
    Conductor:  Christopher Hogwood,  Philip Pickett,  Simon Preston,  Paul Dyer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of Ancient Music,  I Musici,  New London Consort  ... 
    CD: $72.99
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  • 9.
    Il Giardino Armonico
    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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  • 10.
    Essential Vivaldi
    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 Comunitŕ,  Cordevento,  L'Arte dell'Arco  ... 
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  • 11.
    Vivaldi: Music for Lute and Mandolin / Paul O'Dette
    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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  • 12.
    Vivaldi: Mandolin & Lute Concertos / Guglielmo, L'arte Dell'arco
    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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  • 13.
    Vivaldi: Concertos Pour Mandoline / Lislevand
    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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  • 14.
    Vivaldi: Concertos & Other Works / Fisk, Hand, Schulman
    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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  • 15.
    Vivaldi: Concerti / Söllscher, Füri, Camerata Bern
    Vivaldi: Concerti / Söllscher, Füri, Camerata Bern
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 415487 Release Date: 11/10/2008   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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  • 16.
    Super Artists On Super Audio Vol 5
    Super Artists On Super Audio Vol 5
    Label: Channel Classics   Catalog: 5108 Release Date: 10/14/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Domenico Scarlatti,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Antonio Vivaldi  ... 
    Performer:  Dejan Lazic,  Johannette Zomer,  Paolo Giacometti,  Pieter Wispelwey  ... 
    Conductor:  Iván Fischer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Budapest Festival Orchestra,  Florilegium Ensemble,  Carducci String Quartet  ... 
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  • 17.
    Vivaldi: Mandolin, Violin, Flute Concertos / London Musici
    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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  • 18.
    Vivaldi: Concerti
    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.
    Los Romeros - Golden Jubilee Celebration
    Los Romeros - Golden Jubilee Celebration
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001089402 Release Date: 04/08/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Joaquin Rodrigo,  Georges Bizet,  Manuel de Falla,  Antonio Vivaldi  ... 
    Performer:  Angel Romero,  Angelita Romero,  Celin Romero,  Pepe Romero  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner,  Victor Alessandro
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  Los Romeros,  San Antonio Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $19.99
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  • 20.
    Vivaldi's Greatest Hits / Bernstein, Ny Phil, Et Al
    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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  • 21.
    Vivaldi: Concerti Per Liuto E Mandolino / Il Giardino Armonico
    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
    CD: $9.99
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  • 22.
    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
    CD: $29.99
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  • 23.
    Hecho En Salamanca
    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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  • 24.
    Vivaldi: Mandolin Concertos / Orlandi, Frati, Scimone
    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
    CD: $8.99
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  • 25.
    Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Janigro, I Solisti Di Zagreb
    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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