Vivaldi, Antonio (c. 1675-1741), Italian violinist and composer, born Venice. He was ordained priest in 1703, and taught music at the Ospedale della Pieta until 1740, with a 3 years' absence at Mantua in the 1720s.

He then went to Vienna, where he died in poverty. Vivaldi is by far the most interesting and individual of the Italian violinist composers of his time. He wrote over 40 operas, 2 oratorios, church music, secular cantatas, 23 symphonies and 46 concerti grossi, but his real importance lies in some 450 concertos for various solo instruments and combinations of instruments, the majority of the violin family, but also woodwind and such rare things as piccolo, viola d'amore and mandolin. He also wrote 73 sonatas for 1 and 2 violins and for cello

Last Updated on 18th August 2002
By Steven