His output was phenomenal: some 500 concertos, 90 sonatas, at least 50 operas and hundreds of other pieces.Ī walk through Vivaldi's Venice - which can comfortably be done in a day - begins in Piazza San Marco. Vivaldi's first reputation was that of virtuoso violinist, who performed, said a German witness, "at incredible speed." His total mastery of his instrument even tended to undermine his standing as a serious composer, though some of his rivals' comments seem motivated by professional jealousy. He came to this end, according to a Venetian aristocratic contemporary, after having squandered his wealth. He was there on an unexplained journey, possibly in search of work, since his music had by then become less fashionable in Venice.
Strangely, though, he was buried in a pauper's grave, the exact site of which is unknown, when he died in Vienna in 1741. Vivaldi was the most celebrated Venetian violinist and composer of his age and made a fortune from his music. A walk through this neighborhood in search of places associated with Vivaldi, including the extraordinary orphanages where he and his father taught music, is a most rewarding excursion. Vivaldi was born, raised and spent most of his life in Castello, the sestiere, or district, that forms the eastern end of Venice, the part least frequented by visitors. The outstanding musical contribution of the Serenissima's last century as an independent republic is represented by Antonio Vivaldi (1678 to 1741), the composer of "The Four Seasons" and "L'estero Armonico," whose works marked a turning point in the development of the concerto, and were decisive in shaping the classical symphony. VENICE in the 18th century, though no longer the imperial power it had once been, remained, for all the the talk of decadence and decline, a formidable cultural force.
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