Antonio Vivaldi. The unknown life of a famous composer

Father Giovanni Batista Vivaldi, violinist at St. Mark, taught his son to play the violin from childhood. Presumably the teacher of composition was Giovanni Legrenzi, as well as Arcangelo Coreli from Rome.

Vivaldi was tonsured a monk on September 18, 1693, and on the same date, but already in 1700, received the rank of deacon. Vivaldi was elevated to the priesthood on March 23, 1703. He celebrated his first mass in the Church of San Giovanni in Oleo. He was nicknamed the red priest because the shade of his hair was unusual for the Venetians. In 1703, on September 1, he was taken to the Pietta shelter as a violin maestro. From Countess Lucrezia Trevisan he received an order to serve 90 votive matins in the Church of San Giovanni in Oleo. Vivaldi received an award for teaching the viola d'amore in 1704 on August 17th. Having health problems, he was forced to refuse Lucrezia Trevisan's offer and stopped the service halfway through the votive matins. The year 1706 was remembered for the publication of the “Guide to Venice”, designed by the cartographer Coronelli, the publication of which spoke about the virtuoso violinist father and son Vivaldi, as well as the move from the old to newer spacious housing from Piazza Bragora in the neighboring parish of San Provolo.

He first came to Rome in 1723, and in 1724 for the second time, during which he attended the premiere of the opera Giustino, and also had an audience with Pope Benedict XIII. Opus VIII "Il Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Invenzione" is published in Amsterdam in 1725. Four of the most famous concerts "The Four Seasons" were included in this cycle "The Art of Harmony and Invention", which already at that time made an indescribable impression on the listener with its passion and innovation.Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was then working at the French Embassy, valued Vivaldi's music very much and even played some works from this cycle himself on his flute.Very popular were the concerts “Night” (La notte), “The Goldfinch” (Il cardellino), for flute and orchestra, a concert for two mandolins RV532, which stood out with its imagery and harmony, which was very characteristic of his works: “Gloria”, “Magnificat”, “Stabat Mater”, “Dixit Dominus” - spiritual works belonging to the hand of Vivaldi.

In the period 1703-1725, he was a teacher and then an orchestra conductor, leading concerts, starting in 1713, and directing the choir and orchestra at the “della Pieta” (Venice), an orphanage that bore the title of the best musical educational institution for girls. Vivaldi again served as bandmaster in 1735, but this time not for long.

The so-called dramatized “Lombard” style of performance was established by Vivaldi as the most authoritative representative of the violin art of the 18th century in Italy. He created the genre of instrumental solo concert, and he had a significant influence on the development of virtuoso violin playing technique. Being a master of the concerto grosso (ensemble-orchestral concert), Vivaldi defined the form for it in the form of a cycle in 3 parts, while defining a virtuoso part for the soloist.

He gained fame as a composer who was able to create an opera in 3 acts in 5 days and make a lot of variations on one theme during his lifetime. In Europe he became famous as a virtuoso violinist. Goldoni, whom Vivaldi simply cherished, after the death of the latter, in his memoirs he spoke of him as a “mediocre” composer. The memory of Vivaldi was preserved for a long time through a series of transcriptions made by J. S. Bach from the works of his predecessor, and only the 20th century was marked by the release of all instrumental opuses in one collection. The classical symphony was formed through the stage of Vivaldi's instrumental concerts. F. Malipiero headed the Italian Institute in Siena, named after Vivaldi.

Vivaldi finally left Venice in May 1740. Arriving in Vienna at an unfortunate period for himself, the period of the death of Emperor Charles VI and the beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession, Vivaldi found himself out of interest. On July 28, 1741, he died in Vienna, forgotten, poor and sick. The local doctor recorded death from internal inflammation. Vivaldi was buried for a small fee of 19 florins 45 kreuzers in a cemetery for the poor. Sisters Margarita and Zanetta only learned about Antonio's death a month later. On August 26, the bailiff made an inventory of his property in order to pay off his debts.

Because he was too keen on the opera stage, showing haste and illegibility, and often succumbed to criticism from his contemporaries, Vivaldi was nicknamed by his friends as Dirus (Furious) after he staged the opera Roland Furious. To date, the entire operatic wealth of the composer, estimated at 90 operas, has not yet been able to become the property of the opera stage of the world, and only in the 1990s Roland Furious was staged in San Francisco.

Vivaldi and his work greatly influenced musicians of various nations, especially the Germans, and not only their compatriot composers. The influence of Vivaldi’s work on J. S. Bach, who is one of the greatest German composers of the 18th century, is of great interest. In 1802, the first biography of Bach was published, in which its creator, Johann Nikolaus Forkel, emphasized the name of Vivaldi among all the masters influencing the young Bach. The study of Vivaldi's work is associated with the strengthening of themes characterized by instrumental virtuosity in the period 1717-1723, the so-called Köthen creative period. The influence was tracked not only in the mastery and modification of some techniques, everything was much more serious. Vivaldi's style was so warmly embraced by Bach that it became his personal language of music. Bach's closeness from the inside with Antonio's music is noticeable in various works, even in the “High” Mass in B minor. It is undeniable that the influence of Vivaldi's music on the German composer was very great. It is worth remembering the words of A. Casella, who spoke of Bach as the greatest admirer, who was almost the only one who at that time managed to appreciate the full genius of Vivaldi.

He created more than 40 operas, including “Roland the Imaginary Madman” (1714), “Nero Who Became Caesar” (1715), “The Coronation of Darius” (1716), “Deception Triumphant in Love” (1725), “ Farnace (1727), Cunegonde (1727), Olympiad (1734), Oracle in Messenia (1738), Theraspes (1739) - Theater Sant'Angelo in Venice. “Griselda” (1735), “Aristide” (1735) - San Samuele Theater in Venice. Oratorios - “Moses, God of Pharaoh” (1714), “Judith Triumphant” (1716), “Adoration of the Magi” (1722), etc.

Creator of 500 concertos, including: 44 for basso continuo and string orchestra, 352 for instrument accompanied by string orchestra or basso continuo (for cello - 26, for violin - 253, for transverse - 13, for bassoon - 38, for oboe - 12, for longitudinal flutes - 3, for mandolin - 1, for viol d'amore - 6), 49 concerti grossi, 32 for 3 or more instruments accompanied by a string orchestra or basso continuo, 38 for 2 instruments accompanied by a string orchestra or basso continuo (for violin - 25, for cello - 2, for horns - 2, for violin and cello - 3, for mandolins - 1).

4 violin concertos “The Seasons” are one of his most famous creations, an example of symphonic music. Vivaldi was one of the first to use horns, oboes, bassoons and other instruments as independent instruments rather than backup ones, so his contribution to the development of instrumentation was more than significant.

On July 28, 1741, composer Antonio Vivaldi died. In the history of music, he is a recognized genius, and, of course, there are hardly anyone who has never heard his works. However, not much is known about Vivaldi himself and his life. Let's restore justice - remember the biography of the great composer.

Antonio was born on March 4, 1678 in the Venetian Republic, in the family of barber Giovanni Battista and Camilla Calicchiu. The child was born two months premature and was very weak, as a result of which he was baptized immediately after birth. Doctors later diagnosed him with “tightness in the chest,” that is, asthma. This closed the possibility for Vivaldi to play wind instruments in the future.

Vivaldi could write a full-length opera in 5 days

The father of the future musician was fond of music in his youth and learned to play the violin; later he was offered the position of chief violinist in the chapel of St. Mark's Cathedral. Little Antonio's father himself gave him his first lessons in playing the instrument. The boy was such a capable student that from 1689 he replaced his father in the chapel. There the young genius was surrounded by clergy, which determined the choice of his future profession: Vivaldi decided to become a clergyman. However, this did not prevent him from continuing his music studies and combining two things.

Vivaldi House in Venice

However, his church career did not go smoothly due to Vivaldi’s poor health. He celebrated only a few masses as a priest, and after that he ceased to perform his duties, remaining, however, a clergyman. Antonio, who has proven himself to be an excellent musician, receives an offer to become a teacher at the Venetian Conservatory. He taught his students both sacred and secular music. During these years, Vivaldi wrote many works for students - concertos, cantatas, sonatas, oratorios. In 1704, in addition to the position of violin teacher, he received the duties of viola teacher. In 1716 he became the head of the conservatory, responsible for all musical activities.

Vivaldi was one of the composer Bach's inspirations

In the 1710s, Vivaldi began to gain fame as a composer. His name was included in the “Guide to Venice”, where he was called a virtuoso violinist. Travelers visiting the famous Italian city spread the fame of Vivaldi beyond Italy. Thus, Vivaldi was introduced to the Danish king Frederick IV, to whom he subsequently dedicated 12 violin sonatas. Since 1713, Vivaldi has been trying himself as an opera composer. He wrote “Ottone at the Villa” and “Roland Pretending to be Mad” - these works ensured Vivaldi’s fame, and over the next 5 years, 8 more operas by the composer were staged. Despite the frantic workload, Vivaldi did not shirk his responsibilities as head of the conservatory, managing to combine them with his compositional activities.

Vanessa Mae performs Vivaldi

Not everyone, however, was enthusiastic about Vivaldi's operas - for example, composer Bendetto Marcello published a pamphlet where he ridiculed Vivaldi's work. This forced Antonio to stop working on operas for several years.

A crater on the planet Mercury is named after Vivaldi

In 1717, Vivaldi accepted an offer to take the place of bandmaster at the court of Prince Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt, governor of Mantua. It was under the impression of the surroundings of this town that the famous cycle of violin concerts, known in Russia as “The Seasons” (correctly called “The Four Seasons”), was born. In addition, in Mantua, Vivaldi meets the opera singer Anna Giraud, whom he subsequently introduces to everyone as his student. Giraud's sister, Paolina, accompanied the composer everywhere, taking care of his health - asthma attacks plagued Vivaldi. Both girls lived with Vivaldi in his house in Venice, which caused indignation on the part of the clergy, since he was still a clergyman. In 1738 he was prohibited from celebrating Mass on the grounds of the composer's "fall from grace". However, Vivaldi himself denied all sorts of gossip and speculation regarding his relationship with the Giraud sisters, who were only his pupils.

Mantua

One of the connoisseurs of Vivaldi’s music was the philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau; he performed some of the composer’s works on the flute. Among the admirers of his talent was Emperor Charles VI, and in the 1730s Vivaldi decided to move to Vienna and take the place of composer at the imperial court. In order to raise money for the trip, he had to sell his manuscripts at a penny price. Vivaldi's fame faded; he was no longer so popular in Venice. Failures began to haunt the musician: shortly after arriving in Vienna, Charles VI dies, and the War of the Austrian Succession begins. Vivaldi leaves for Dresden in search of a new job, but falls ill. He returned to Vienna already deeply ill, poor and forgotten by everyone. Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741, and was buried in a cemetery for the poor in a simple grave.

For almost 200 years, Vivaldi's work was forgotten

Vivaldi's musical heritage was forgotten for almost 200 years: only in the 20s. In the 20th century, Italian musicologist Gentili discovered unique manuscripts of the composer: nineteen operas, more than 300 concerts, many sacred and secular vocal works. It is believed that Vivaldi wrote more than 90 operas throughout his life, but only 40 have proven authorship.

Italian composer, violinist, teacher, conductor, Catholic priest. During his lifetime, he received recognition in Europe as a composer and virtuoso violinist, and established a new, so-called “Lombard” style of performance. He is the author of 40 operas, oratorios, and more than 500 concerts. Most Popular Vivaldi received thanks to his violin and instrumental concerts. One of his most famous works is "Four Seasons", written for string orchestra.

Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, which was at that time the capital of the Venetian Republic. Antonio's ancestors came from Brescia, where his father was born - Giovanni Battista Vivaldi. Giovanni Battista (nicknamed "Red" for his fiery hair color) moved to Venice around 1670. There for some time he worked as a baker, and then mastered the profession of a barber. In his free time from earning his daily bread, Giovanni Battista played the violin. And he turned out to be such a gifted musician that in 1685 the famous Giovanni Legrenzi, conductor of the Cathedral of St. Mark, accepted him into his orchestra.

The first and most famous of the six children of Giovanni Battista Vivaldi and Camilla Calicchio, Antonio Lucio, was born prematurely due to a sudden earthquake. The boy's parents saw the birth of a new life under such strange circumstances as a sign from above and decided that Antonio should become a priest.

When the future great composer was 15 years old, his tonsure (symbol of the crown of thorns) was shaved, and on March 23, 1703, twenty-five-year-old Antonio Vivaldi was ordained. However, he did not feel a sincere desire to be a priest and soon stopped celebrating mass. Although, as Carlo Goldoni testifies, Vivaldi read his prayer book every day throughout his life.

From his father, Antonio inherited not only his hair color (quite rare among Italians), but also a serious love of music, especially playing the violin. Giovanni Battista himself gave his son his first lessons and brought him to his place in the orchestra of the Cathedral of St. Brand. Antonio studied composition and learned to play the harpsichord and flute. In September 1703, Vivaldi began teaching music at the Ospedale della Pietà orphanage for girls.

The shelter “Ospedale della Pietà” (literally “hospital of compassion”) existed since 1348 and was always famous for the comprehensive (including musical) education that its pupils received.

Vivaldi was associated with this institution for almost his entire life. It must also be said that the composer’s teaching activity was not limited to work as a “maestro di violino” - that is, a violin teacher. Vivaldi gave private lessons to singers and taught them to play the viola. In addition, he conducted the orchestra at rehearsals and concerts when the chief conductor was not present. And he wrote music tirelessly.

In 1705, the Venetian publisher Giuseppe Sala published the first collection of sonatas for three instruments (two violins and bass) by Antonio Vivaldi. The next “portion” of Vivaldi’s violin sonatas was published four years later by Antonio Bortoli. Soon the works of the “red priest” (as Vivaldi Jr. was dubbed by the same Venetian jokers who had previously given the nickname “Red” to his father) acquired extraordinary popularity.

In just a few years, Antonio Vivaldi became the most famous violin composer in Europe. His fame and incredible success is evidenced by the following fact: in 1711-1729. released in Amsterdam twelve collections of instrumental music by Vivaldi, including L "estro armonico ("Harmonic Inspiration"), La stravaganza ("Fad") And II cimento dell"armonia e dell"invenzione ("An experience of harmony and fantasy") - a work that includes famous Le quattro stagioni ("Four Seasons" or simply "Seasons"). Subsequently, Vivaldi's works were published in London and Paris - the then publishing centers of Europe.

In 1713, in Vicenza, Vivaldi presented his first opera to the public. "Escape at the Villa". Over the next five years, he published five more operas, which conquered the largest Venetian theaters. Vivaldi was rapidly transforming from a completely modest “red-haired priest” into a brilliant secular composer.

At the beginning of 1718, he received an invitation to serve as conductor at the court in Mantua. The composer stayed here until 1720, that is, until the death of the wife of his employer, Prince Philip. And here, in Mantua, Vivaldi met an opera singer Anna Giraud. According to researchers, it is Vivaldi who owes much of the credit for the development of Anna Giraud as an opera singer, which is understandable, since Italian opera composers usually had a perfect command of the secrets of vocal technique. First she was his student, then the main performer in his operas and, finally, to everyone's outrage, she became his mistress. This behavior of the composer caused criticism from the clergy. This would later lead to dire consequences for Vivaldi. It is known that in 1738, Cardinal Archbishop Ruffo of Ferrara forbade Vivaldi to enter the city and celebrate Mass in connection with the composer’s fall from grace. At that time, this was considered an unheard of shame and meant for Vivaldi, who once played before the Pope, his complete discredit as a clergyman. Financial losses were no less significant.

After three years of service in Mantua, Vivaldi returned to Venice. Returning to Venice after three years of service in Mantua, Vivaldi devoted himself entirely to theatrical activities. He tried his hand both as an author and as an impresario.

In 1723-1724, Vivaldi reaped triumphant success during three carnival seasons in Rome, a performance in which was considered the most serious test for any composer. Vivaldi performed operas in Rome "Hercules on Thermodon"(1723), "Justin and Virtue, triumphant over love and hate"(1724).

Program concerts became the most popular among contemporaries, especially the famous "Seasons". The first four concertos for violin and string orchestra became famous under this title. They have been continuously performed in Paris since 1728 and were published as a separate edition. In total, 28 instrumental works by Vivaldi are known, endowed with program titles. However, only “Seasons” are programmatic in the true sense of the word. In the Amsterdam edition of 1725, each of the concerts is preceded by a poetic sonnet, the content of which determines the nature of musical development. Judging by the text of the dedication, the concerts of the cycle were known without sonnets long before publication, and their texts may have been composed to ready-made music. The author of the sonnets is not named in the dedication, and it is possible that he was Vivaldi himself. Before publishing the cycle, he thoroughly revised the score to make the programmatic intent of the music more clear.

In concert "Winter"- in the score "Hell"- the composer reaches the heights of artistic expression. Already in the first bars the feeling of piercing winter cold is masterfully conveyed. Then, with striking clarity, the impact of raindrops on the window, the slide on skates and the sudden fall of the skater, the cracking of the ice and, finally, the frantic struggle of the southern sirocco with the northern wind are reproduced.

Truly innovative in concept, the “Seasons” cycle was significantly ahead of its time, anticipating the searches in the field of program music of the romantic composers of the 19th century.

During the Carnival of 1734, spectators at the Teatro Sant'Angelo saw Vivaldi's new opera with a libretto "Olympics" Metastasio is one of the most famous works of the poet-playwright. Such a multifaceted plot in terms of dramatic collisions undoubtedly inspired the composer to create a highly artistic work. Such an authoritative expert on Vivaldi’s operatic work as A. Casella wrote that “Olympiad” stands out among other operas by the Italian composer for the incomparable beauty of the music.

Despite the composer approaching old age, his creative productivity remained amazing. It is performed in Verona "Tamerlane" And "Adelaide"(1735), and in Florence "Ginevra, Princess of Scots"(1736).

In 1740, Vivaldi finally abandoned work in "Ospedale della Pieta" and left for Vienna, to the court of Emperor Charles VI, his longtime and, importantly, powerful admirer.

But, alas, the rosy plans of the great composer were not destined to come true. Arriving in Vienna, he no longer found the monarch alive. In addition, by this time Vivaldi's popularity had begun to decline. The public's preferences changed, and baroque music quickly found itself on the periphery of fashion.

The sixty-three-year-old musician, who had never been in good health, was unable to recover from these blows of fate and fell ill with an unknown illness.

Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741 in Vienna from “internal inflammation” (as it was written in the funeral protocol), in the arms of his student and friend Anna Giraud. The funeral was modest: only a few bells sounded, and the procession consisted only of people hired to carry the coffin.

After his death, the musical heritage of Antonio Vivaldi was forgotten for almost 200 years, and only in the 20s of the 20th century, assemblages of the composer’s manuscripts were discovered by an Italian musicologist.

Date of birth: March 4, 1678
Place of birth: Venice
Country: Italy
Date of death: July 28, 1741

Antonio Vivaldi (Italian: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi) is an Italian composer, violinist, teacher, and conductor.

He studied violin with his father Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, violinist at St. Brand; perhaps composition - with Giovanni Legrenzi, and may also have studied with Arcangelo Corelli in Rome.

On September 18, 1693, Vivaldi was tonsured a monk. On September 18, 1700 he was elevated to the rank of deacon. On March 23, 1703, Vivaldi was ordained to the priesthood. On September 1, 1703, he was admitted to the Pietà orphanage as a maestro in violin class. In 1704 he received additional remuneration for teaching the viola d'amore. In 1706, his first public performance took place in the palace of the French embassy.

In 1725 in Amsterdam, the cycle “The Art of Harmony and Invention,” which even then made an indelible impression on listeners with its frantic passion and innovation, includes four world-famous “Four Seasons” concerts. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who worked at the French embassy in Venice at that time, highly appreciated Vivaldi’s music and loved to perform some of this cycle himself on his favorite flute. Also widely known are Vivaldi's concertos - "La notte" (Night), "Il cardellino" (The Goldfinch), for flute and orchestra, concerto for two mandolins RV532, distinguished by the artistic depiction and harmonic generosity characteristic of his works, as well as spiritual works: " Gloria", "Magnificat", "Stabat Mater", "Dixit Dominus".

In 1703-1725. - teacher, then orchestra conductor and director of concerts, and also from 1713 - director of the orchestra and choir at the Della Pieta in Venice, an orphanage, which was famous as one of the best music schools for girls.

Vivaldi is the largest representative of Italian violin art of the 18th century, who established a new dramatized style of performance. He created the genre of solo instrumental concert and influenced the development of virtuoso violin technique. Master of the ensemble-orchestral concert - concerto grosso.

During his lifetime, Antonio Vivaldi became known as a composer capable of creating a three-act opera in five days and composing many variations on one theme. He became famous throughout Europe as a virtuoso violinist. Only in the 20th century was the publication of the complete collection of Vivaldi’s instrumental concertos undertaken, which was a step towards the formation of a classical symphony. The Italian Vivaldi Institute was created in Siena.

In mid-May 1740, the musician finally left Venice. He arrived in Vienna at an unfortunate time, as Emperor Charles VI had just died and the War of the Austrian Succession had begun. Forgotten by everyone, sick and without a livelihood, he died in Vienna on July 28, 1741. The doctor recorded the death of “the Reverend Don Antonio Vivaldi from internal inflammation.” He was buried in a pauper cemetery for a modest fee.

The composer's opera heritage (approximately 90 operas) has not yet become the property of the world opera stage. It wasn't until the 1990s that Roland Furious was successfully staged in San Francisco. Vivaldi's work had a huge influence not only on contemporary Italian composers, but also on musicians of other nationalities, primarily German. Here it is especially interesting to trace the influence of Vivaldi’s music on J. S. Bach, the greatest German composer of the 1st half of the 18th century. The strengthening of the instrumental-virtuoso character of Bach's thematicism during the Köthen period of his work (1717-1723) is directly related to the study of Vivaldi's music. The inner affinity with Vivaldi's music is palpable in a wide variety of Bach's works, right up to his famous "High" Mass in B minor. The influence that Vivaldi's music had on the German composer was undoubtedly enormous. According to A. Casella, “Bach is his greatest admirer and probably the only one who at that time was able to understand the greatness of the genius of this musician.”

Works of Antonio Vivaldi

More than 40 operas, including “Roland the Imaginary Madman”, “Nero Who Became Caesar”, “The Coronation of Darius”, “Deception Triumphant in Love”, “Farnace”, “Cunegonde”, “Olympiad”, “Griselda”, "Aristides", "Oracle in Messenia", "Theraspes"; oratorios - “Moses, God of Pharaoh”, “Judith Triumphant”, “Adoration of the Magi”, etc.
More than 500 concerts, including:
44 concertos for string orchestra and basso continuo,
49 concherti grossi,
352 concertos for one instrument with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment (253 for violin, 26 for cello, 6 for viol d'amore, 13 for transverse, 3 for longitudinal flutes, 12 for oboe, 38 for bassoon, 1 for mandolin )
38 concertos for 2 instruments with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment (25 for violin, 2 for cello, 3 for violin and cello, 2 for horns, 1 for mandolins),
32 concertos for 3 or more instruments with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment.
More than 100 sonatas for various instruments with basso continuo accompaniment.
Secular cantatas, serenades, symphonies.
Stabat Mater and other ecclesiastical works.
One of the most famous works is the cycle of 4 violin concerts "The Seasons" - an early example of program symphonic music.

Biography:

Antonio Vivaldi (Italian Antonio Lucio Vivaldi; March 4, 1678, Venice - July 28, 1741, Vienna) - Italian composer, violinist, teacher, conductor.

He studied violin with his father Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, violinist at St. Brand; perhaps the compositions are from Giovanni Legrenzi.

In 1703 Vivaldi was ordained a priest. In 1703-25 - teacher, then orchestra conductor and director of concerts, and also from 1713 - director of the orchestra and choir at the "della Pieta" in Venice, an orphanage, which was famous as one of the best music schools for girls. In 1735 he again briefly served as bandmaster.

Vivaldi is the largest representative of Italian violin art of the 18th century, who approved a new dramatized, so-called “Lombard” style of performance. He created the genre of solo instrumental concert and influenced the development of virtuoso violin technique. Master of the ensemble-orchestral concert - concerto grosso. Vivaldi established a three-part cyclic form for the concerto grosso and singled out the virtuoso part of the soloist.

For a long time, Vivaldi was remembered only because J. S. Bach made a number of transcriptions of his predecessor’s works, and only in the 20th century was the publication of the complete collection of Vivaldi’s instrumental opuses undertaken. Vivaldi's instrumental concerts were a stage on the path to the formation of a classical symphony. The Vivaldi Italian Institute was created in Siena (headed by F. Malipiero).

Forgotten and abandoned by everyone, Antonio Vivaldi died in Vienna on July 28, 1741 from “internal soaring,” as recorded in the funeral protocol.

Essays

More than 40 operas, including “Roland the Imaginary Madman” (Orlando fiato pozzo, 1714, Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice), “Nero who became Caesar” (Nerone fatto Cesare, 1715, ibid.), “The Coronation of Darius "(L'incoronazione di Daria, 1716, ibid.), "Deception Triumphant in Love" (L'inganno trionfante in amore, 1725, ibid.), "Farnace" (1727, ibid., later also called "Farnace" , ruler of Pontus"), "Cunegonde" (1727, ibid.), "Olympiad" (1734, ibid.), "Griselda" (1735, San Samuele Theater, Venice), "Aristide" (1735, ibid. ), “Oracle in Messenia” (1738, Teatro Sant’Angelo, Venice), “Theraspes” (1739, ibid.); oratorios - “Moses, God of Pharaoh” (Moyses Deus Pharaonis, 1714), “Triumphants Judith” (Juditha Triumphans devicta Holo-fernis barbarie, 1716), “Adoration of the Magi” (L'Adorazione delli tre Re Magi, 1722), etc. ; secular cantatas, serenades, symphonies, Stabat Mater and other church works; more than 400 instrumental concertos, including 76 sonatas (with basso continuo), including 30 for violin, 19 for 2 violins, 10 for cello, 1 for violin and cello, 2 for lute and violin, 2 for oboe; 465 concertos, including 49 concerti grossi, 331 for one instrument with basso continuo (228 for violin, 27 for cello, 6 for viol d'amore, 13 for transverse, 3 for longitudinal flutes, 12 for oboe, 38 for bassoon, 1 for mandolin) 38 for 2 instruments with basso continuo (25 for violin, 2 for cello, 3 for violin and cello, 2 for horns, 1 for mandolins), 32 for 3 or more instruments with basso continuo; “concerti grossi” (49), for one instrument with basso continue (331, including 228 for violin), etc. One of the most famous works is the cycle of 4 violin concerts “The Seasons” - an early example of program symphonic music. Vivaldi's contribution to the development of instrumentation was significant (he was the first to use oboes, horns, bassoons and other instruments as independent rather than duplicate ones).