BIOGRAPHY

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was born on 4th March 1678 in Venice. Being the eldest of six children(Margarita, Cecilia, Bonaventura, Zanetta and Francesca), he was bound for ministry as his parents(Giovanni Battista and Camilla Vivaldi) considered it as one of the most successful professions at that time. He was given his primary instructions by his father, who was considered a violin virtuoso. It was in March 1703 when Antonio was appointed priest (although he wasn´t able to exert it due to a serious illnes in the chest, perhaps asthma). In August he decided to start working as "Maestro di violino" for "La Pietà" (institution in charge of orphaned girls offering to some of them musical training and a general education to the others). In 1705 he published his first collection: some sonatas devoted to the count Annibale Gambara. The opus II (twelve sonatas for violin and continuo) appeared four years later, in 1709. His charge in La Pietà was renewed in 1706. However, being unabled to carry on with it, he had to reject it three years later. Nevertheless, he was assigned violin teacher again in 1711, and it was this year when his opus III was published: L`estro armonico, the greatest collection of concertos of the Baroque. The effect of this work was incredible; this is shown by the fact that Bach carried out several transcriptions from it. In 1713, the Maestro di Capella (entrusted to compose for La Pietà) Gasparini ,left the charge; Scarpari held his place, but from then on Vivaldi was the one getting all the responsibility, composing his major sacred vocal works. At the same time, he began to become in contact with the theatre "Sant`Angelo". In 1713, La Pietà allows Vivaldi to "practise his mastery" and his first operas were performanced, as"Orlando finto pazzo", or "Nerone fatto cesare". One year later, his opus IV is published.His success as a opera composer gave him the chance to compose the carnival opera. In 1716, he was visited by Pisendel, a member of an elite orchestra, sent there from Saxony, in order to study the italian style; besides having a great relationship, Vivaldi was his master. As Pisendel went back, he carried with him a great deal of concertos and vocal compositions, which made Vivaldi popular all around Europe. Between 1718 and 1720 he was named "Maestro di Capella da camera" in Mantua, where he composed most of his cantatas. From 1720 to 1723 Vivaldi gave up his life to the opera, writing among others,"La Candace o siano li veri amici", "Ercole sul Termodonte","Filippo, re di Macedonia", "Gli inganni per vendetta", "La Silvia", and "La verità in cimento". It was in 1723 when he started working for La Pietà again. This same year, in October, the opus VIII is published: "Il cimento dell` armonia e dell` invencione ", which contains the worldwide famous "four seasons". In 1727, 1728 and 1729, Vivaldi reached his major success in the opera. The most remarkable of his serenades, "La Senna festeggiante", was composed for the French King, Luis XV, in 1729. It was at the same time when he provided the Austrian Emperor CarlosVI, his opus IV: "La Cetra". Shortly after his next opus was published: six concertos for flute and orchestra. In 1730 and 1731 Vivaldi settled in Praga where he composed several operas and two sonatas for lute, violin and continuo, a personal assignment of the Count Johann Joseph Von Wrtby. In 1733 he was already back in Venice, composing the operas "Motezuma", "L`Olimpiade", "L`Adelaide", and "Bajazet". In 1735 Vivaldi was engaged in La Pietà again, being appointed "Maestro de Concerti". Between 1737 and 1739, while he was working for La Pietà, he tried (unsuccessfully) to perform several of his operas. In 1740 Vivaldi decided (the reason is not really known) to travel to Viena . In July 1741 he died, being a pauper, in this same city.

Gonzalo Noqué