Vivaldi for beginners

The Italian composer and virtuoso violinist Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678.

After his ordination as a priest in 1703 he worked for nearly 40 years at the Ospedale della Piet, an institution for the education of poor and orphaned girls.

He wrote many pieces for its female music ensemble, and became a prolific composer of some 500 concertos and 40 operas, as well as work for churches and theatres.

The Four Seasons series of violin concertos is his most famous piece.

He left Venice in 1741 in the apparent hope of finding new patrons in Vienna, but died shortly after his arrival in the city.