Pietà was a convent, orphanage and music school. Italy is the dark green 'boot' | Wikimedia CommonsĬonservatory of Pietà in Venice where Vivaldi taught music. Vivaldi's operas are rarely staged today-not because of mediocre quality-but because many of the leading roles were written for castrated male singers (Italian, castrati)-men surgically altered to enhance their upper singing range.

While many music historians are quick to dismiss Vivaldi's contributions to opera, he managed to have 45 operas staged across Europe and ascended to superstar status. Indeed, Antonio frequently took leaves of absence from the Conservatory of Pietà to compose and conduct operas and concerts throughout Europe. His all-female orchestra was among the finest in Europe, and he composed much of his instrumental music for them.Īntonio's father worked in opera house management and, undoubtedly, his connections helped the younger Vivaldi break into the operatic world. He soon took a position at the Conservatory of Pietà, a school for orphaned and illegitimate girls in Venice, and spent his life as a violin teacher, composer, conductor and superintendent of music. Mysteriously, Antonio fell ill and was excused from active service. His parents pressured him into the priesthood, and he took holy orders at the age of twenty-five.

1723 | International Museum and Library of Bolognaīorn in Venice, son of a music director and violinist, Vivaldi was throughly trained as a musician since childhood. Music In The Baroque Era Italy | Antonio Vivaldi PeterĪntonio Vivaldi, 1678-1741, a virtuoso violinist and foremost composer of the late Italian Baroque, is known for spontaneity and simplicity of melody, rhythmic vitality, clarity of form and skillful orchestration.Īntonio Vivaldi | Anon., c. Music In The Baroque Era | Antonio Vivaldi | The Four Seasons 1

Vivaldi's music