Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, priest and virtuoso violinist. He is best known for his instrumental concertos, above all the violin cycle The Four Seasons.
Much of his output was written for the all-female ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, where he taught and directed for decades. Beyond the concertos he composed sacred choral music and more than fifty operas, and helped consolidate the solo concerto into a widely followed form.
After almost two centuries of neglect his music returned to the centre of the repertoire, and it remains among the most frequently performed and recorded of the Baroque.
Compositions by Antonio Vivaldi appear on
Il Diavolo
Accademia Arcadia, founded by harpsichordist Dr Jacqueline Ogeil, presents Italian baroque violin sonatas with improvising violinist Davide Monti, a regular guest with leading early-music ensembles.