Composer Antonio Vivaldi: Biography and Creativity

The most prominent representative of the Italian violin art of the 18th century is the Catholic priest, composer, conductor, teacher and violinist Antonio Vivaldi, whose biography and works are still of interest to many professionals and amateurs. In Europe, he was recognized during his lifetime.

Creativity Antonio Vivaldi is most popular due 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 birth of the composer remained a mystery for biographers, but in the middle of the last century, thanks to the found church records, it was established exactly. March 4, 1678 in Venice in the family of barber Giovanni Baptista was born the first child Antonio Vivaldi. His biography is still full of mysteries and contradictions. Because of the malice and threat of death, the boy was baptized by a midwife on his birthday.

The talent of the child manifested itself early, already at the age of ten, Antonio replaced his father during his absence in the chapel of the cathedral. The first composition of the child appeared at the age of thirteen. It was the boy's parent who became his first teacher, and his service in the church influenced his choice of career.

Young years

Fifteen and a half years old he received a lower 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 the Mass. At this time he acquired the glory of a virtuoso violinist. But a year later he did not want to serve the Mass because of 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 detached from the church, which caused a lot of gossip.

The Venetian "conservatory"

In 1703, Antonio Vivaldi (a brief biography of which was completed in the priest's order) was invited to one of the best Venetian conservatories. This was the beginning of the pedagogical and creative activity of the young man.

Once in the midst of brilliant musical traditions, he wrote a large number of essays of secular and spiritual instrumental music, taught music theory, rehearsed with the orchestra, studied with choristers, conducted concerts. Due to the multifaceted and fruitful activity 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 writing of a large number of instrumental pieces, appeared before the vast public and the musical community as the author of trio sonatas. And a little later the publishing house published another 12 works of a large form under one opus. The next contained the same number of sonatas for violin with chibalo.

In 33 years Vivaldi gets fame is far beyond his hometown. At this time, he has a solid salary and becomes the head of the concert pupils. His works are listened to by Danish nobles and even by the king.

Far outside the country, his works are being published and published. For the first time in Holland comes his opus from twelve concerts for 1, 2 and 4 violins with accompaniment. The best works of this opus are the most executed.

The novelty, the brightness of sensations and images amazes contemporaries music Antonio Vivaldi. His biography becomes more intense in this period, and creative activity is 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 - opera. For many long years it will be the most significant sphere of its activity.

In order to put his first opera "Otgon at Villa" in Vincenza, Antonio takes a month's vacation. The production was successful and attracted the attention of the impresario of Venice. Beginning with the next, for five years follows a number of premieres, which firmly consolidate the fame of the opera composer.

Since that moment, Antonio Vivaldi, whose biography is heading for a new creative stage, is striving to win recognition among the widest masses of listeners.

Despite suggestions from other places that were very tempting, as well as a stunning success in the operatic field, after long holidays he still remained true and returned to the Venetian "conservatory".

Theatrical creativity

The first two oratorios in the Latin texts appear at the same time, when he was passionately carried away by the theater. "Judith triumphant" became one of Vivaldi's best creations.

Pupils of that time are honored to learn from him, but neither they nor a large amount of composing work can distract Antonio from active work in the theater, where he fulfills an order for twelve major arias for the opera "Nero Made by Caesar".

For this same theater, the opera "The Coronation of Darius" was created. In just five years, the composer's glory is growing rapidly and goes beyond the borders of his country far to Europe.

After the first years of the opera tour associated with Venice, composer Antonio Vivaldi decides to change the situation and enters a three-year service to the head of the Austrian emperor's army in Mantua, Margrave Phillip von Hesse-Darmstadt.

Service at Margrave

This period is very significant for Vivaldi: it is he who influences his entire future life. He gets acquainted with the daughter of a French barber and opera singer Anna Giraud, whom Antonio represents with all her pupil. Her sister took care of the composer's health and became his constant companion.

On the part of the church, constant complaints were received for such inappropriate relationships for the clergyman, for the sisters lived in the composer's house and accompanied him on a tour. Subsequently, these relations will lead to very unfavorable results for the musician.

At the end of the service, he returned to Venice, but travel to European capitals continues. Despite the brilliant premieres of the composers, the most vivid works contemporaries consider program concerts, especially "The Seasons".

The last period of life

The efficiency of Antonio Vivaldi (you see his photo in our article) was amazing: it did not become lower, despite the old age. His operas are performed on many European stages and have a stunning success. But at the age of 59 he is overtaken by a terrible blow to fate. The Apostolic Nuncio in Venice on behalf of Cardinal Ruffo forbade the composer to enter one of the Papal States (Ferrara) in the midst of preparing for the carnival.

At that time, it was an unheard-of shame and entailed a complete discredit of both Vivaldi - a cleric and material damage. Relations in "Pieta" began to deteriorate, and Antonio's music began to be considered obsolete due to the appearance at that time of a large number of young creators. 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 this, the creator leaves his homeland forever.

From internal inflammation, he died in Vienna at the age of 63, all abandoned and forgotten.