However, he was recalled by unanimous vote in 1711.

The young composer gained a high reputation, but fell out with the Board who governed the orphanage and eventually lost his position in 1709. All of them could sing and most played a musical instrument. Here he composed concertos and cantatas for the girls. And anyway, although Vivaldi was a devout Catholic, who kept a rosary with him while he composed, his heart was really in his music, which he much preferred to a career in the Church.Īlways in 1703 Vivaldi began to teach violin at the orphanage of the Ospedale della Pietà, one of the four orphanages for abandoned or orphaned girls in Venice. The Ospedale della Pietà was especially famous for creating talented musicians, and their concerts were particularly popular. His health may have been behind such a decision: faible and tired, Vivaldi barely managed to move around because of his chest conditions, let alone take upon the responsibilities of a parish. The ‘red-haired priest’ as he was nicknamed because of his startling red hair, gave up saying Holy Mass fairly quickly after that. He became an acolyte in 1696 and a priest in 1703, nine and a half years after he began. He was the one introducing young Antonio to the violin and to the highly musical atmosphere of his native city, Venice. However, sons of upper-class Venetian families were often sent into the priesthood and Vivaldi was no exception. Vivaldi’s father, Gianbattista, was one of the best violinists in the city and a popular performer in San Marco’s Basilica. With today’s medical knowledge, specialists came to believe he may have suffered from asthma. Health weakness was to be a constant for the musician, who suffered from respiratory problems throughout his life. However, he was an extremely prolific composer and he led such an intriguing life even Hollywood produced a movie about it.īorn on the 4 th of March 1678, in the very cultured and musical city of Venice, young Antonio was quickly baptized on the very day of his birth, as he was considered frail and at risk of death. The composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi is mostly known for his beautiful Four Seasons, inspired by the scenery around Mantova.

Vivaldi red priest