The essential place to visit, however, was Italy. London was a frequent starting point for Grand Tourists, and Paris a compulsory destination many travelled to the Netherlands, some to Switzerland and Germany, and a very few adventurers to Spain, Greece, or Turkey. The Grand Tourist was typically a young man with a thorough grounding in Greek and Latin literature as well as leisure time, financial means, and some interest in art.
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In 1668, "An Italian Voyage" by Richard Lassels was published, and the institution of the Grand Tour of Europe was born. So Venice, undeterred, opened itself up to the newly travelling aristocracy as a tourist centre, with its Masqued Carnivals and Splendiferous Canal Processions set against the backdrop of its unique location and architecture. Travel up and down the Croatian coast to see evidence everywhere of Venetian architecture, statues and city planning.īut by the mid 1600s Venice was losing its commercial power, as new trading routes opened, and new power structures developed in the Mediterranean. Further wars of conquest enabled Venice to acquire neighbouring territories, and by the late 15th century, the city-state was the leading maritime power in the Christian world. Having put down its main rival, Genoa, in the war of 1378-1381, Venice established its supremacy over the Adriatic, its 'home waters', and the northern Mediterranean. Governed effectively by its wealthy merchants with a focus on trade, Venice prospered the great houses, palaces, public buildings and statuary we enjoy today are the legacy of aristocratic wealth. The Crusades and the resulting development of trade with Asia and the Middle East led to the establishment of Venice as the greatest commercial centre for trade with the East and politically the strongest European power in the Mediterranean region. Situated on 120 islands formed by 177 canals in the lagoon between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers at the northern extremity of the Adriatic Sea, Venice became known as the “Queen of the Adriatic” reflecting its historic role as a naval power and commercial centre. A Venetian all his life, travelling but always returning, Vivaldi epitomizes Italian Baroque Music like no other composer.īut first, let us look briefly at Vivaldi's home City-State. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later in poverty.Antonio Vivaldi was a virtuoso violinist, a virtuoso composer – at least in terms of quantity – and a virtuoso teacher, as clearly evidenced by the level of competence attained by his pupils. After meeting the Emperor Charles VI, Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. Vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in Venice, Mantua and Vienna. Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi (who had been ordained as a Catholic priest) was employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740.
ANTONIO VIVALDI MUSIC SERIES
His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons. He composed many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas.
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Born in Venice, he is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. Challenge Records International | Artists - Antonio Vivaldi - Vivaldi: Concerti - Settecento: Baroque Instrumental Music from the Italian States - Villa Vivaldi - Vivaldi: Concerti - The Godfather - L'Eleganza Capricciosa - Concertos for Oboe - Vivaldi, Handel - The Best of Joris Van den Hauwe - Songs Without Words - A Retrospective Volume 8 - Recordare VENEZIA - Carnevale di Venezia - The Four Seasons - The Four Seasons - Nuove Sonate - Seasons - Amor Sacro Amor Profano - Hundred and Eleven Piano Hits - The Unknown Gems - Four Seasons - The BaRock Experience - Masterpieces for cello and organ - Recordings - Complete Concerti For Recorder - Italian concertos & sonatas - Vivaldi, Piazzola: Eight Seasons - Con Chitarrone - Italian sonatas from early renaissance to baroque - Concertos for oboe, strings & basso continuo - The Spirit of Venice - Antonio Vivaldi: Concerti per archi - Motets - Violin Sonatas - 12 Sonatas, Op 2 - Pellegrina's Delight - Concerto Di Amsterdam - Six Cello Sonatas - Corelli & Company - Vivaldi: 6 Concerti da Camera - Italian Cello Concertos - Italian Flute Concertos - De Vier Jaargetijden - Lente Concert Deel 1 - Concerto alla Rustica *Īntonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric.