Portrait of Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi was a famous representative of the Venetian music school in the Baroque era. Venice was one of the two central cities of the Italian Renaissance (the other was Florence), and in the last century it had two famous painters: Chaucer and Titian. Vivalti, known as the "red-haired monk" because of his fiery red hair, was born on March 4, 1678. His father was a violinist at St. Mark's Church, so he received a good music education since childhood. He entered the monastery in 1693 (aged 15) and was promoted to a priest in 1703. However, it is said that once when he was celebrating a Mass, the fugue theme of the music suddenly appeared in his mind. He immediately ignored the ongoing Mass and went to work on his creation alone. For this reason, he was disqualified from presiding a Mass. However, Vivaldi himself denied this, saying that he was removed from his post as a priest shortly after because of his asthma. Due to his superb violin skills and organizational skills, he was appointed as a violin teacher at the Religious Charity Hospital. At that time, the instrumental ensemble at Benai Hospital was of a high level, and their weekly concerts were crowded and very popular. Vivaldi was like a fish in water there. Venice had four conservatories at that time, the level of which was second to none in Europe. Vivaldi also taught at one of them, the "Pieta" Conservatory of Music, whose former site still exists today. The level of the student orchestra at the Conservatory of Music is also very high and is known as "as if an angel is playing." Most of the music Vivaldi wrote in his life was written for the Pieta Orchestra.

Vivaldi has written a lot in his life, and has discovered 650 songs so far, including 554 instrumental music, more than 40 operas, and more than 50 religious music. Among the instrumental music, 454 are concertos for various solo instruments, so they deserve to be called the "King of Concerto" by later generations. Vivaldi's greatest achievement to future generations is that he created a new form of instrumental expression-the establishment of the classical concerto form, and his 12 concerto collection "Inspiration for Harmony" was regarded as a model by composers of his contemporaries. Both Bach and Handel were greatly influenced by him, especially Bach. In his youth, he worked hard to study Vivaldi's works and adapted many of them into clavichord solos and concertos to pass them down to later generations.

Vivaldi's most famous work is the Violin Concerto "Four Seasons", which is the "Twelve Violin Concerto"(OP. 9)The first four poems in the book, completed in 1725, describe different scenery in the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter of the year. The work is well structured, beautiful and delicate, so that you can hear the singing of birds, the dense dark clouds, the rustling of leaves and the shepherd sleeping soundly. Influenced by this style, Beethoven, the later "Music Saint", imitated the gurgling water and the chirping of cuckoo and nightingale in the Sixth Symphony (Pastoral), and described villagers 'dances and stormy scenes, all of which were inspired by the "Four Seasons". Vivaldi wrote quickly when writing. He himself said,"I can compose music faster than a copywriter." He accepted the commission and wrote 10 concertos in just three days. He is so prolific that it is not surprising that there are situations that feel familiar in his works. Some people sarcastically say that "Vivaldi did not write 600 concertos, but wrote a piece 600 times." In fact, this statement is inaccurate. Some pieces seem similar, but in fact, if you listen carefully, the style of each piece, the sound effects and methods of accompaniment of the orchestra are all different. He never writes another piece of music in the same writing style. Although he writes like the wind, he is never sloppy. He has the magical sense of hearing the sounds of nature and the ability to transform everything he hears into music, which is extremely rare among all musicians.

Vivaldi had the opportunity to play for the Pope in Rome in 1723-1724 and received constant applause from him, but in 1737 the Pope banned the performance of one of his new operas on the grounds that Vivaldi, as a monk, never recited Mass and had an affair with Anna Giroud, a female singer. This was a very serious matter at the time. Despite this, it did not affect him from enjoying a higher reputation in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom than in Venice. For the same reason, he lost his position at Ren 'ai Hospital. In 1740, Vivalti, who was physically and mentally exhausted, arrived in Vienna, hoping to find a job, but his fate did not turn for the better. In the summer of 1741, a generation of musical talents who were both poor and sick died at the home of a cobbler in Vienna. The body was buried in a public cemetery on July 28. Compared with his great achievements, the death of this Italian baroque master is really miserable.

Excellent versions of Vivaldi's main works are: "Four Seasons"-Acardo Violin, version of the Nabori Soloist Ensemble, Philips, CD No. 422065-2;"Inspiration for Harmony"-Marina conducting the St. Martin's Orchestra version, Decca, CD No. 443 476-2;"12 Concerto for Violin and Oboe and Strings"-Acardo Violin, Holiger Oboe, Philips, CD No. 426 940-2 ;"Glory Sutra"-Gerst conducts the St. John's College Chorus, Wren Orchestra version (sung by Russell, Kwella, Wilkens), Decca, CD No. 448 223-2, etc.