![]() The French classical scholar, historian and traveller Charles de Brosses wrote of the Pietà orchestra: “These are brought up at the State’s expense and trained exclusively in music. Remarkably, this was to remain his base for the greater part of his life from 1703 to 1740, including several prolonged leaves of absence. Within just a few weeks he had secured his first professional appointment as maestro di violino at the Pio Ospedale della Pietà, one of four orphanages for girls in Venice. He was based largely at home during his training and thus managed to continue his musical studies during his spare time.įollowing his ordination Vivaldi appears to have turned his back on the church almost immediately: he gave up attending mass and went in search of “worldly” employment. He received Holy Orders in 1703, and thereby earned the nickname “Il Prete Rosso” (“The Red Priest”) on account of the distinctive colour of his hair. Vivaldi’s father, Giovanni Battista, was a violinist at St Mark’s Cathedral, and although he taught his prodigiously gifted son to play from early childhood, a musical career seemed unlikely, especially after the 15-year-old Vivaldi was shunted off to join the priesthood. In any case, Antonio was officially baptised on May 6. However, it is far more likely that the lifelong affliction that Vivaldi referred to as “strettezza di petto” (probably asthma) had made itself apparent from the start. ![]() One theory is that the earthquake that hit Venice on Mamay have induced general panic around the future composer’s bedside. ![]() The exact date of Vivaldi’s birth confounded scholars for many years, although it was known that a problem immediately following his delivery resulted in the midwife performing an emergency baptism. ![]()
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