Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice. The boy was born prematurely and, due to mortal danger, was immediately baptized by a midwife under the name Antonio Lucio. Antonio survived, but all his life he was distinguished by poor health (suffered from asthma attacks, could not climb stairs and walk), which, however, was more than made up for by his seething inner strength and energy.
Vivaldi's musical talent manifested itself early. It is known that already at the age of ten he replaced his father, a musician in the chapel of St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, who taught his son to play the violin.
There is no exact information about the further musical education of Antonio Vivaldi, but there is a version that the boy studied composition with the famous J. Legrenzi. There is also an assumption that his first independent work dates back to 1691.
The many years of activity of Father Vivaldi in St. Mark's Cathedral largely determined Antonio's further choice. In 1693, according to the documents, he received a tonsure and the title of "goalkeeper" (the lowest degree of priesthood), and in 1703 he received the priesthood. Almost all the time preceding this event, Vivaldi devoted to music and earned himself a reputation as an outstanding virtuoso violinist.
Soon after accepting the dignity of Vivaldi, he was invited as the head of the violin, singing and orchestra classes at the Venice Women's Conservatory "della Pieta", known as one of the best music schools for girls. During his work in "della Pieta" Vivaldi created a huge amount of sacred and secular music, especially instrumental. Since 1705, the composer's works have been actively published in Italy and abroad.
In 1713, Vivaldi officially became the main composer of Pieta. The first operas of the composer belong to the same time. And less than five years later, his fame in this field spread far beyond the borders of Venice.
In 1718-1722. Vivaldi was in the service of the Duke of Mantua, concentrating in Italy and other European countries. At the same time, the composer met the opera singer Anna Giraud - an event that would later push Vivaldi against church circles. When, after a three-year absence, Antonio returned to Venice, Anna Giraud came with him, soon receiving from the Venetians the nickname "girlfriend of the red-haired priest."
In 1725, Vivaldi was removed from work in the "Pieta" and continued to travel in concert to the largest cities in Europe.
However, the reasons for the conflict between the composer and representatives of the church were not only in Anna Giraud. So, Vivaldi was almost persecuted by the Inquisition for leaving the altar during the service in order to write down a successful musical thought that came to him at that moment. And only the fact that the composer was declared insane saved him from dire consequences.
After ten years of concert tours and successful performances of his compositions in 1735, Vivaldi again became bandmaster at Pieta for a short time. However, a new clash with the church was not long in coming. In 1737, the Apostolic Nuncio in Venice forbade him, on behalf of Cardinal Ruffo, from entering Ferrara. “This is because,” said Vivaldi, “that, being a clergyman, I do not serve Mass and take advantage of the location of the singer Giraud.”
It is significant that Ch. de Brosse, who met Vivaldi in 1739, wrote from Venice: “To my great amazement, I found that he is far from being valued here as highly as he deserves - here, where everything depends from fashion, where his stuff has been listened to for too long and where last year's music no longer collects.
As a result, the composer left Venice and moved to Vienna.
Here, in poverty, Antonio Vivaldi died in 1741.
Musical legacy:
Operas:"Roland is supposedly insane"(Orlando fiato pozzo, 1714), "Nero Becomes Caesar"(Nerone fatto Cesare, 1715), "Coronation of Darius"(L "incoronazione di Daria, 1716), "Deception Triumphant in Love"(L "inganno trionfante in amore, 1725), "Farnace"(1727), "Cunegonde"(1727), "Olympics"(1734), "Griselda"(1735), "Aristide"(1735), "Oracle in Messenia"(1738), "Ferasp"(1739)
Oratorios: " Moses, god of the pharaoh(Moyses Deus Pharaonis, 1714), "Triumphant Judith"(Juditha Triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie, 1716), "Adoration of the Magi"(L "Adorazione delli tre Re Magi, 1722)
Secular cantatas: including 37 for voice with basso continuo, 14 for voice from strings, orchestra grand cantata "Gloria and Hymen"(1725)
Cult music (about 55 pieces): including Stabat mater, motets, psalms, etc.
Instrumental works:
76 sonatas (with basso continuo), including 30 for violin, 19 for 2 violins, 10 for cello, 1 for violin and cello, 2 for lute and violin, 2 for oboe; 465 concertos, including 49 concerti grossi, 331 for one instrument with basso continuo (228 for violin, 27 for cello, 6 for viol d "amour, 13 for transverse, 3 for longitudinal flutes, 12 for oboe, 38 for bassoon, 1 for mandolin) 38 for 2 instruments with basso continuo (25 for violin, 2 for cello, 3 for violin and cello, 2 for horns, 1 for mandolins), 32 for 3 or more instruments with basso continuo.
On March 4, 1678, a boy was born in the family of a violinist of the Venetian Cathedral, who received the name Antonio Lucio Vivaldi. The baby was born two months prematurely, and everyone expected him to die soon. That is why the baby was baptized immediately after his birth. Later, three more daughters and two sons were born in the Vivaldi family, but none of the children, except for Antonio, became a musician.
There is no reliable information about the childhood of Antonio Vivaldi. It is only known that the boy showed a musical gift very early. He was taught music by his father, Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, a well-known violinist in Venice, and, barely reaching the age of ten, Antonio fully replaced his father in the orchestra that played in St. Mark's Cathedral. And this happened quite often, since Vivaldi Sr. was a sought-after musician outside of Venice. In addition, it is believed that Antonio studied composition with Legrenzi. One of his earliest musical works, Vivaldi composed in 1691, this musical study is attributed to him precisely because of the characteristic features of the work.
But first, Antonio Vivaldi chose for himself a career not musical, but spiritual, and on September 18, 1693, a fifteen-year-old boy receives a tonsure and the lowest degree of spiritual title - a "goalkeeper", a minister who opens the gates of the temple. However, music remains his main passion. Ten years later, in the autumn of 1703, Antonio takes the priesthood. But even earlier, he gained fame as an outstanding musician, a virtuoso violinist, and therefore he was invited to the Venetian conservatory "Ospedalle de la Pieta" as a teacher.
According to the canons of teaching in the eighteenth century, Vivaldi, as a teacher, was obliged to write for his students and learn with them a fairly significant amount of secular and sacred music - sonatas, concertos, cantatas, oratorios, and so on. But Antonio, in addition, managed to work with choristers and rehearse with the orchestra. Largely due to the activities of Vivaldi, the conservatory, where he taught, began to stand out from other similar institutions in Venice. It should be noted that Venice, like the north of Italy, at that time was the birthplace of many great instrumentalists, and therefore it was a great honor to stand out among them. In 1705, a publishing house in Venice publishes twelve Vivaldi sonatas, designated as opus No. 1. Later, Vivaldi often turned to this genre, and about eighty of his sonatas are known in total.
In 1711, Antonio Vivaldi received a fairly high and constant annual salary and became director of the concerts of his conservatory. During this period, Vivaldi's music becomes popular throughout Europe, and almost everything favors his success. Many noble foreigners who visited Venice considered it obligatory to attend Vivaldi concerts, because in 1709 Frederick IV, King of Denmark, became one of the listeners of these concerts, and Vivaldi dedicated violin sonatas to him. In 1712, Vivaldi's famous twelve concertos for violins with accompaniment were published in Amsterdam. Concertos from this opus are the most popular and often performed so far.
In 1713, Vivaldi was officially appointed to the post of chief composer of the Venetian Ospedalle del Pieta. Simultaneously with this appointment, he became interested in a new genre for him - opera. In the same year, he was given a month's leave specifically to participate in the production of Otgon at the Villa, his first opera. The opera is highly appreciated by the audience, and the inspired composer presents his second opera a year later - Roland pretending to be mad. After that, eight Vivaldi operas were staged in Venice in just five years. Despite the success of the operas and a huge number of tempting offers, the composer remains faithful to his conservatory and, after staging and rehearsals, he invariably returns to the Ospedalle de la Pieta. The brilliant composer managed everything and, while writing operas, created two magnificent oratorios based on Latin texts. The first was performed in 1714 - "Moses, God of the Pharaoh". The second, "Judith Triumphant", - in 1716. Unfortunately, the score of Vivaldi's oratorio "Moses, God of the Pharaoh" has been lost - only the text with the names of the performers has been preserved in Rome. An analysis of this text showed that almost all parts of the oratorio, including men's, were performed exclusively by girls, pupils of the conservatory.
The famous Italian virtuoso, like a magnet, attracted musicians from all over Europe, and they would be honored to study under his guidance, but Vivaldi preferred intensive work in the theater to everything. In addition, he received a new order and, by the carnival of 1716, he wrote twelve main arias of the opera Nero Made Caesar for the Sant'Angelo theater troupe. At the same carnival, the San Angelo theater showed the opera The Coronation of Darius, and the San Moise theater showed the opera Permanence triumphing over love and hate. How the great composer managed all this remains a real mystery.
Vivaldi also had troubles. In 1720, at the height of the carnival season, an anonymous author published a pamphlet that caustically and wittily ridiculed one of Vivaldi's operas. The author aptly and talentedly noticed a lot of theatrical clichés and debunked them. The authorship of the pamphlet became known much later - the successful composer Benedetto Marcello failed in the genre of opera, and this probably inspired him to create a poisonous work. Vivaldi bore this severe blow with honor - without arguing, he did not stage new operas for about four years and revised almost all of his work.
In 1720, Vivaldi was invited to the service of Margrave Philipp von Hesse-Darmstadt, who at that time led the Austrian imperial troops in Mantua. Here Vivaldi met the opera singer Anna Giraud, who was the daughter of a French hairdresser. Goldoni, in his memoirs, claims that Vivaldi once introduced Anna to him as his student. The most curious thing is that Goldoni also wrote about Anna's obvious ugliness, although he recognized her grace and undoubted acting talent, immediately pointing out that the range of the singer's voice was very small. By that time, Vivaldi's health had already been undermined, and Paelina, Anna's sister, completely took care of him. Both women permanently lived in the composer's house and invariably accompanied him on all his travels. The church has repeatedly expressed a negative attitude towards the relationship between Vivaldi and the Giraud sisters, which is too close for a person of clergy and gives rise to numerous gossip.
After three years of service with the Austrian margrave in Mantua, the composer returned to Venice. Anna Giraud came with him, and this gave the Venetians the opportunity to caustically call her "the priest's girlfriend." Vivaldi spends the next two carnival seasons in Rome. Performances in the eternal city have always been considered the most serious test of the talent of composers, and Vivaldi passed it with honor. In 1723, his opera "Hercules on Thermodon" was held in Rome, and the following year - "Justin and Virtue triumphing over love and hatred."
The most popular among Vivaldi's contemporaries were the composer's program concerts, and in particular his magnificent Four Seasons. This name was given to the first four concertos for string orchestra and violin. In Paris, they loved this music so much that it has been performed invariably since 1728, and the score was published as a separate edition. A great connoisseur of Vivaldi's music was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was then working in Venice at the French Embassy. Rousseau even played the music of his favorite composer on the flute.
Probably the apotheosis of Vivaldi's operatic work is the Olympiad (libretto by Metastasio), which the audience saw for the first time at the Sant'Angelo Theater in 1734. The plot of the famous playwright and poet inspired Vivaldi, and taking into account his past mistakes, the composer created a highly artistic work, multifaceted and full of dramatic collisions and incomparable beauty of music. This fact was indisputably recognized by A. Casella, a researcher of Vivaldi's opera music.
However, Vivaldi was waiting for a heavy blow of fate. On November 16, 1737, he was unequivocally pointed out to violations of obligations to the church - the Venetian nuncio announced Vivaldi a ban on travel to Ferrara (Papal States) and reported Cardinal Rufo's dissatisfaction with the composer's behavior. Vivaldi himself spoke of this, that he was probably punished for refusing to serve Mass and for his disposition towards the singer Giraud. This blow from the Roman church not only covered the composer with shame and discredited him as a clergyman, but also caused significant material damage.
On March 21, 1740, almost the last concert of the composer was given at the Ospedalle della Pieta conservatory. Frequent absences for productions of his operas, as well as the dissatisfaction of the churchmen, significantly spoiled the relationship between Vivaldi and the leadership of the conservatory. In addition, a new generation of violinists and composers appeared in Italy at that time, and against their background, Vivaldi's music began to seem dull and outdated to society. At the end of the autumn of 1740, Vivaldi left the conservatory, the glory of which he had provided for many years. In the documents of the Ospedalle della Pieta, the composer is mentioned for the last time on August 29, 1740, in connection with the sale of his concertos at the price of one ducat apiece. Such a low cost, apparently, is due to the composer's great financial difficulties, especially since at the same time he was preparing for a trip. At sixty-two, Vivaldi decided to leave Venice, which had cooled to him and his work. At the invitation of Charles VI, he arrived in Vienna, but he had no luck here either. The king died, and with the outbreak of war, music receded into the background.
Abandoned and forgotten by everyone, the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741 in Vienna. In the funeral protocol, the cause of death was listed as general internal inflammation. The composer's property was sold on account of debts, the body was interred in a cemetery for the poor, and only a month later the Vivaldi sisters learned of his death.
Vivaldi's music was revived when Gentili, an Italian musicologist, accidentally discovered the composer's unique manuscripts in early 1923. The collection contained nineteen operas, over three hundred concertos, as well as secular and spiritual vocal compositions. The glory of Vivaldi returned to him - but only after two hundred years ...
BRIEF CATALOG OF ANTONIO VIVALDI WORKS
Antonio Vivaldi wrote about 800 compositions in various genres during his almost forty years of creative life, becoming the creator of a new genre - a solo instrumental concerto. Interest in the work of the Venetian master emerged already in the 20th century, approximately from the 20s. From the same time, work began on cataloging his works, without which research work and performing activities are practically impossible.
In 1922, a thematic catalog of the Turin finds by A. Gentili appeared, in 1939 - by O. Rudge, in 1945 - by M. Rinaldi, in 1948 - by M. Pincherle, in the second volume of his fundamental research "Antonio Vivaldi and instrumental music", in 1954 - V. Kolnedera and others. Finally, in 1973 in Copenhagen, the Danish researcher Peter Rayom published the most complete catalog of the composer's works, which included both published and handwritten instrumental, vocal and musical stage works by the Italian master .
Almost simultaneously, the Italian Institute of Antonio Vivaldi initiated the publication of the Composer's Complete Works. But to create such a work today is not yet possible. The finds continue.
In 1978, an international conference dedicated to Vivaldi was held in Venice, at which new finds were announced in Manchester and Dresden. The Italian musicologist Mario Rinaldi, who spoke, reported on two unknown cantatas "Victory in a naval battle" and "Yefta", which are "pasticcio" from the music of Vivaldi himself, Scarlatti and Gasparini.
Second example. In 1973, 465 instrumental concertos by A. Vivaldi were found, of which 49 were concerti grossi, 331 for one tool with basso continue(including 228 for violin, 27 for cello, 6 for viol d'amore, 13 for transverse, 3 for longitudinal flutes, 12 for oboe, 38 for bassoon, 1 for mandolin), 38 for two instruments with basso continue(including 25 for violin, 2 for cello, 3 for violin and cello, 2 for horns, 1 for mandolins), 32 for three or more instruments with basso continue. At the beginning of the 21st century, 734 instrumental concertos have already become known, most of which are still in manuscript.
We offer readers a brief catalog of the works of A. Vivaldi, which will give a general idea of the creatively diverse interests of the great Italian.
operas
"Ottone in the Village", libretto, D. Lally. Vicenza, 1713
"Roland, an imaginary madman", D. Braccoli, Venice, 1714
"Nero Became Caesar" (lost) "pate", Venice, 1715
"Arsilda, Queen of Pontus", D. Lalli, Venice, 1716
"Coronation of Darius", A. Morselli, Venice, 1717
"The Triumph of the Constancy of Love and Hate" (lost), and Marco, Venice. 1716
"Tieteberga" (lost), A. Lucchini, Venice, 1717
“Armida in Egypt” (II act lost), D. Palazzi, Venice, 1718
Artaban, A. Marchi, Venice, 1718
Skanderbeg (lost), A. Salvi, Florence, 1718
"Teusone", A. Zeno, Mantua, 1719
"Titus Manlius", M. Noris, Mantua, 1719
"Truth in creativity", D. Palazzi - D. Lalli, Venice, 1720
"Candache" (lost), F. Silvani, Mantua, 1720
"Revenge for deceit" (lost), D. Palazzi, Venice. 1720
"Sylvia" (lost), P. Bissarri, Milan, 1721
"Philip, King of Macedonia" (lost), D. Lally, Venice, 1721
"Hercules on Thermodon" (lost), D. Bassani, Rome, 1723
"Giustino", N. Beregan - P. Pariati, Rome, 1724
"Tigran, or the Triumph of Virtue", F. Sylvani, Rome, 1724
“Deception triumphant in love” (lost), M. Noris - D. Ruggieri, Venice, 1725
"Griselda", A. Zeno - C. Goldoni, Venice, 1725
"Dorilla", A. Lucchini, Venice, 1726
"Kunegonda" (lost), A. Piovene, Venice, 1726
"Faithful Loyalty" (lost), F. Silvani, Venice, 1726
"Hypermestra" (lost), A. Salvi, Florence, 1727
"Roland (furious)", D. Braccoli, Venice, 1727
Siroe, King of Persia (lost), P. Metastasio, Reggio Emilia, 1727
"Farnace", A. Lucchini, Venice, 1727
Rosilena and Oronta (lost), D. Palazzi, Venice, 1728
"Athenaida", A. Zeno, Florence, 1730
"Agrippo" (lost), D. Lalli, Prague, 1730
“Alvida, the Gothic Queen” (lost), A. Zeno, Prague, 1731
"Fidelity of the nymph", S. Maffei, Verona, 1732
"Doriklea", A. Marki, Prague, 1732
"Semiramide" (lost), F. Sylvani, Mantua, 1732
"Motezuma" (lost), D. Giusti, Venice, 1733
"Aristides" (lost), C. Goldoni, Venice, 1733
"Olympias", P. Metastasio, Venice, 1734
Adelaide (lost), libretto by A. Salvi, Verona, 1735
"Bayazet (Tamerlane)" "pasticcio", Verona, 1735
"Ginevra, Queen of Scots" (lost), A. Salvi, Florence, 1736 "Cato Utica" (act I lost), P. Metastasio, Verona, 1737 "Oracle in Messenia" (lost), A. Zeno, Venice, 1738 "Rosmira" ("pasticcio"), S. Stampiglia, Venice, 1738 "Feraspe" (lost), F. Silvani, Venice, 1739
Choral and vocal music
Sacrum (complete mass)
parts of the mass:
Kyrie (two choirs)
Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
Sanctorum mentis
Te Deum (lost)
Psalms, including
Beatus vir (Psalm 111)
Confitebor tibi Domine (Psalm 110)
Credidi (psalm 115)
Dixit Dominus (Psalm 109)
Domine ad adiuvandum In exitu Israel (Psalm 113)
Laetatus sum (psalm 121)
Lauda Jerusalem (Psalm 147)
Laudate Dominum (Psalm 116)
Laudate pueri (Psalm 112)
Nisi Dominus (Psalm 126)
Hymns, antiphons, motets, including:
Deus tuorum militum
oratorios
Moses, god of the pharaohs (lost), 1715
Triumphant Judith, 1716
The Adoration of the Three Wise Men to the Child Jesus, 1722
Grand Cantata Gloria and Hymen, 1721
Under the shade of a beautiful beech
My eyes are directed towards him.
Cupid, you won
You disappeared, golden days
His innate sternness
Elvira, Elvira, my soul
It was night
So cry, sources of tears
The wave with a groan goes away
My poor heart
In vain the dove coos
Butterfly flutters, not knowing
Parting with you, my dear
I seem to be late
Foliage rustles playfully
They live soulless
If you rise in thoughts
Oh yes, kind rays
The sky turns pink
I understand you, my heart
The breeze rustles through the grass
Hand of milky white
On the hunt, on the hunt!
Dear forests, native meadows
Glimpses of Joy
Ungrateful Lydia, you won
The most insidious heart
I can't stop crying
Sobs and sighs
Who is he, stranger
In the shadow of suspicion
Why sigh
Far from the beloved
Why don't you give up
I aspire to you
Cupid, you won
Yes stop it
Oh, the purple of my cassocks
(dedicated to Di Bagni, Bishop of Mantua)
And a golden rain poured down (dedicated to Prince Philip of Darmstadt)
Serenade
Praise to Hymen A contest of duty
Competition of justice and peace My poor heart Fishing eclogue (Pug)
Adorable Euryllia Celebrating Seine Union of Peace and Mars
Instrumental concertos and sonatas
As previously mentioned, to date, 734 instrumental concertos by A. Vivaldi are known, 73 sonatas have been found. In the performing practice of our country, there are mainly works from fourteen opuses, which were published during the composer's lifetime. We present them in our short catalogue:
op. I 12 trio sonatas (Venice, 1705, Amsterdam, 1712–1713)
op. II 12 sonatas for solo violin and basso continuo (Venice, 1709, Amsterdam, 1712–1713)
op. Ill 12 concertos for violin solo, two and four violins with basso continuo L'Estro Armonico (Amsterdam, 1712), including the concerto NNII - fugue
op. IV 12 concertos for violin and basso continuo L'Stravagenza (Amsterdam, 1712–1713)
op. V 6 sonatas, 4 for violin and basso and 2 for two violins and basso continuo (Amsterdam, 1716)
op. VI 6 concertos for various instruments (Amsterdam, 1716–1717)
op. VII 12 concertos for various instruments with basso continuo (Amsterdam, 1716–1717)
op. VIII 12 concertos "II Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Invencione" (Amsterdam, 1725), including Nos. 1-4 for solo violin, string quintet, organ and cembalo "Quattro Staggione" ("The Seasons")
No. 5 - "Storm at Sea"
No. 6 - "Pleasure"
No. 7 - dedicated to I. Pisendel, German violinist No. 8 and No. 10 - "Hunting"
op. IX 12 concerts "La Cetra" (Amsterdam, 1728)
op. X 6 concertos for various instruments (Amsterdam, 1729–1730), including:
No. 1 - "Storm at Sea"
No. 2 - "Night"
No. 3 - "The Goldfinch"
op. XI 6 concertos for various instruments (Amsterdam, 1729–1730), including No. 2 "Favorite"
op. XII 6 concertos for various instruments (Amsterdam, 1729–1730)
op. XIII 6 sonatas for various instruments "II pastor fido" (Paris, 1737). The belonging of this opus to the pen of A. Vivaldi is disputed by some researchers
op. XIV 6 sonatas for cello with basso continuo (Paris, 1740)
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The most prominent representative of the Italian violin art of the 18th century is the composer, conductor, teacher and violinist Antonio Vivaldi, whose biography and work are still of interest to many professionals and amateurs. In Europe, he received recognition during his lifetime.
The work of Antonio Vivaldi is most popular thanks to instrumental, especially violin concertos. But at the same time, he is considered an unsurpassed master in other genres, such as opera, concerto grosso.
Childhood Vivaldi
For a long time, the date of the composer's birth remained a mystery to biographers, but in the middle of the last century, thanks to church records found, it was established accurately. 1678 in Venice in the family of the barber Giovanni, the first child of Antonio Vivaldi. His biography is still full of secrets and contradictions. Due to frailty and the threat of death, the boy was baptized by the midwife on his birthday.
The talent of the child manifested itself early, already at the age of ten, Antonio replaced his father during periods of his absence in the chapel of the cathedral. The first composition of the child appeared already at the age of thirteen. It was the boy's parent who became his first teacher, and he was influenced by his career choice.
Young years
Fifteen and a half years old, he received the lowest degree of priesthood, according to which he had the right to open the gates of the church. A few years later, Antonio earned the title of priest, as well as the right to serve Mass. At this time, he gained fame as a virtuoso violinist. But a year later, he did not want to celebrate mass due to physical ailment, although some of his contemporaries claimed that he was pretending, using this time to write his musical compositions in the sacristy. It was for this behavior that he was expelled from the church, which caused a large number of gossip.
Venice "conservatory"
In 1703, Antonio Vivaldi (whose brief biography as a priest was completed on this) was invited to one of the best Venetian conservatories. This was the beginning of the pedagogical and young man.
Finding himself in an environment of brilliant musical traditions, he wrote a large number of works of secular and sacred instrumental music, taught music theory, rehearsed with the orchestra, studied with choristers, and conducted concerts. Due to the multifaceted and fruitful activities of Antonio, his conservatory became noticeable among others.
The beginning of the composer's path
In the first years of his work, Antonio Vivaldi, whose biography and work were saturated with the composition of a large number of instrumental pieces, appeared before the vast public and the musical community as the author of trio sonatas. A little later, the publishing house published 12 more large-form works under one opus. The next one contained the same number of sonatas for violin and cembalo.
At 33, Vivaldi is already gaining fame far beyond the borders of his native city. At this time, he has a solid salary and becomes the main director of the concert of pupils. Danish nobles and even the king listen to his works.
Far beyond the borders of the country, his works begin to be performed and published. For the first time in Holland, his opus of twelve concertos for 1, 2 and 4 violins with accompaniment is released. The most performed are the best works of this opus.
The music of Antonio Vivaldi strikes contemporaries with novelty, brightness of sensations and images. His biography during this period becomes richer, and his creative activity becomes more successful.
Opera creativity
Already at the age of 35 he is the main composer of "Pieta". This obliges Vivaldi to regularly compose music for students. At the same time, he decides to turn to an unknown genre for himself - opera. For many years to come, it will be the most significant area of his activity.
In order to stage his first opera in Vincenza, Otgon in the Villa, Antonio takes a month's vacation. The production was successful and attracted the attention of the impresario of Venice. Starting with the next one, a whole series of premieres followed over the course of five years, which firmly cemented his fame as an opera composer.
From this moment on, Antonio Vivaldi, whose biography is entering a new creative stage, seeks to win the recognition of the widest masses of listeners.
Despite offers from other places, which were very tempting, as well as a stunning success in the opera field, after long holidays, he still remained faithful and returned to the Venetian "conservatory".
Theatrical creativity
The first two oratorios on Latin texts appear at the same time, when he became passionately interested in the theater. "Judith triumphant" became one of the best creations of Vivaldi.
The students of that time consider it an honor to study with him, but neither they, nor a large amount of composing work can distract Antonio from active work in the theater, where he performs an order for twelve main arias for the opera Nero Made Caesar.
The opera "Coronation of Darius" was also created for the same theater. In just five years, the composer's fame is growing rapidly and goes beyond the borders of his country far into Europe.
After the first years of an opera tour associated with Venice, the composer Antonio Vivaldi decides to change the situation and enters a three-year service with Margrave Philip von Hesse-Darmstadt, who led the troops of the Austrian emperor in Mantua.
Service at the Margrave
This period is very significant for Vivaldi: it is he who influences his entire future life. He meets the daughter of a French barber and opera singer Anna Giraud, whom Antonio introduces to everyone as his student. Her sister took care of the composer's health and became his constant companion.
From the side of the church, there were constant complaints about such relationships that were inappropriate for a clergyman, because the sisters lived in the composer's house and accompanied him on tour. Subsequently, these relationships will lead to very unfavorable results for the musical creator.
At the end of his service, he returned to Venice, but travel to European capitals continues. Despite the brilliant premieres of composed operas, contemporaries consider program concerts, especially "The Four Seasons", to be the most striking works.
Last period of life
The efficiency of Antonio Vivaldi (you can see his photo in our article) was amazing: it did not become lower, despite His operas being performed on many European stages and having a stunning success. But at the age of 59, a terrible blow of fate overtakes him. The Apostolic Nuncio in Venice, on behalf of Cardinal Ruffo, forbade the composer from entering one of the Papal States (Ferrara) in the midst of preparations for the carnival.
At that time, this was an unheard-of shame and entailed complete discrediting of both Vivaldi, a clergyman, and material damage. Relations in "Pieta" began to deteriorate, and Antonio's music began to be considered outdated due to the emergence of a large number of young creators at that time. He had to leave.
In the "conservatory" he is mentioned for the last time in connection with the sale at an extremely low price of a large number of his musical concerts. After that, the creator leaves his homeland forever.
He died of internal inflammation in Vienna at the age of 63, abandoned and forgotten by everyone.
Date of birth: March 4, 1678
Date of death: July 28, 1741
Place of birth: Republic of Venice
Antonio Vivaldi is a brilliant composer. Antonio Vivaldi(Antonio Lucio Vivaldi), was a recognized violinist in Italy. Also known as a composer, teacher, conductor. He had a spiritual order. Antonio's fame peaked between 1713 and 1718, when at least eight operas were written.
Antonio first saw the light in March 1678, and immediately became a citizen of the Republic of Venice. His father served as a violinist in the most famous temple in Venice, and the boy was destined for music from childhood. The boy studied with his father from the age of ten and even sometimes replaced him in the Cathedral of St. Brand. Opinions about other violin teachers are currently divided.
Being surrounded by clergy and musicians led the teenager to decide to become a priest. He served Mass, but did not stop playing music. The successes were so significant that Antonio even taught at one of the best music schools. Subsequently, he became the leader, as well as the conductor of orchestras.
Antonio could not combine music and ministry for a long time. This happened for various reasons - someone believes that because of poor health since childhood, someone - that Antonio could not devote himself entirely to serving in the temple.
From 1704, Antonio was absorbed in writing. His violin sonatas are becoming more and more famous. Venice in those days was known for its international connections - and the fame of the young composer spreads throughout Europe.
In 1713 Vivaldi takes on larger musical forms such as operas and oratorios. In a short time, he wrote several operas, such as "Roland, the imaginary madman", "The Coronation of Darius". At the Venice Carnival, the audience warmly welcomes the composer's creations. There comes the most fruitful period in his work, after which, according to some sources, he departs for Mantua.
In Mantua, the fateful acquaintance of the composer with the performer of opera parts A. Giraud and her sister takes place. Later, the sisters permanently lived in Vivaldi's house and were often with him during long journeys. Antonio always spoke of the sisters with the utmost respect. He was grateful to Paolina, who helped him in the fight against asthma. But the clergy could not approve of such an acquaintance and in every possible way condemned the friendship of the composer. The higher clergy forbade the entry of the creator into some Italian cities.
After Mantua, according to contemporaries, Antonio went to the capital of Italy, where he presented his new creations with invariable success. Opera visitors liked the composer's original style so much that his productions were always sold out. The Four Seasons were also presented there for the first time. It is this work that is most often associated with the name of the composer.
In 1740 Antonio went to Vienna. Unfortunately, this was the last trip from Italy. Charles IV died in Vienna and the struggle for the inheritance flared up. Having fallen ill, the composer is left without a livelihood and eventually dies on July 28, 1741.
Achievements of Antonio Vivaldi:
Enriched violin music with a new genre of single instrumental concerto.
He wrote ninety-four operas.
Author of 500 concertos for different types of instruments. He introduced wind instruments to the orchestra for the first time. Even during his lifetime, his merits as a composer were recognized in Europe.
Dates from the biography of Antonio Vivaldi:
March 4, 1678 was born in Venice
1688 began learning to play the violin
1703 began working as a violin teacher at a music school
1705 several works of the composer were published under the title "Opus 1"
1713 wrote the first major work - an opera
1738 receives a ban from entering Florence for sinful behavior
1735 works as bandmaster
1740 leaves Venice for good
1741 July 28 died in Vienna
Interesting Antonio Vivaldi Facts:
He received recognition from compatriots for the opportunity to create a full-fledged opera in three days.
Could write many variations to one musical theme.
No one remembered the composer for nearly 200 years. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century, manuscripts with the works of Vivaldi were discovered.
Antonio had a significant influence on the work of his more famous follower - Bach.
Only 40 operas out of 90 have fully proven Vivaldi authorship.
The most famous four concertos from the cycle of violin concertos have the correct name "Four Seasons".
There is only one color portrait of the artist. The fact that Antonio Vivaldi is depicted there has not yet been reliably confirmed.
He had a copper shade of hair that is rare among the Venetians.
A crater on one of the planets of the solar system is named after the composer.
