Eventually, people tired of his music, causing him to have financial troubles. During this period (around 1717-1730) he wrote his most famous pieces, The Four Seasons concertos for violin.Īs the public’s musical tastes changed, so did Vivaldi’s fortunes. He became so popular that he was asked to become the orchestra director and composer for an Italian prince. Vivaldi knew this and started writing operas as a sort of second career. At the time, opera was the most popular form of entertainment. Over the next 30 years, he composed many of his best-known works there.

It was also at this time that he became the “master violinist” at an orphanage (he was considered a virtuoso violinist). He was named “The Red Priest” because of his red hair. Vivaldi also studied to become a Catholic priest, a goal that he achieved by the age of 25. Because of Antonio Vivaldi’s childhood asthma, his parents felt he could not play a wind instrument. He taught Antonio violin from a young age. His father was a barber, but eventually turned to music and became a professional violinist. He is considered one of the greatest Baroque period composers. Himmelberger, Jamie - Reading SpecialistĪntonio Vivaldi was born in 1678 in Venice, Italy (Venice was its own country at the time).

Famous vivaldi pieces