Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678, in Venice. His father played violin in the orchestra of St. Mark's Cathedral and was also a barber. The young Antonio initially aspired to a career as a priest before becoming one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque era.
As an Italian composer and renowned violinist, Vivaldi's works shaped the Baroque period. During his lifetime, he composed numerous hymns, violin pieces, and more than forty operas. With his most famous work, "The Four Seasons," he made music history.
His oeuvre comprises over 450 concertos and 45 operas. He taught violin at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, where he achieved great success. Among his most important works, besides "The Four Seasons" (1725), are the sacred "Gloria in D Major" (RV 589) and many other instrumental concertos.
Although Vivaldi was successful during his lifetime, he suffered financial difficulties in his later years. He died impoverished on July 28, 1741, in Vienna. Posthumously, he is considered one of the most influential composers of Baroque music.