   antonio lucio vivaldi (; 4 march 1678&nbsp;â 28 july 1741) was an italian baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. born in venice, he is recognized as one of the greatest baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across europe. he is known mainly for composing many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas. his best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as the four seasons. many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the ospedale della pietÃ , 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. vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in venice, mantua and vienna. after meeting the emperor charles vi, vivaldi moved to vienna, hoping for preferment. however, the emperor died soon after vivaldi's arrival, and vivaldi himself died less than a year later in poverty. after his death, vivaldi's music slid into obscurity until a vigorous revival in the 20th century. today, he ranks among the most popular and widely recorded of baroque composers, second perhaps only to johann sebastian bach,mfiles.co.uk: antonio vivaldi who himself was deeply influenced by vivaldi's work. ==life== ===childhood===  antonio lucio vivaldi was born in 1678 in venice, then the capital of the republic of venice. he was baptized immediately after his birth at his home by the midwife, which led to a belief that his life was somehow in danger. though not known for certain, the child's immediate baptism was most likely due either to his poor health or to an earthquake that shook the city that day. in the trauma of the earthquake, vivaldi's mother may have dedicated him to the priesthood.walter kolneder, antonio vivaldi: documents of his life and works (amsterdam: heinrichshofen's verlag, wilhelmshaven, locarno, 1982), 46. vivaldi's official church baptism took place two months later.michael talbot, vivaldi (london: j.m. dent & sons, ltd., 1978), 39. vivaldi's parents were giovanni battista vivaldi and camilla calicchio, as recorded in the
1678_births 1741_deaths 17th-century_Italian_people 17th-century_classical_composers 18th-century_Italian_people 18th-century_Roman_Catholic_priests 18th-century_classical_composers Baroque_composers Composers_for_cello Composers_for_violin Italian_Roman_Catholic_priests Italian_classical_composers Italian_classical_violinists Italian_expatriates_in_Austria Opera_composers Oratorio_composers People_from_Venice_(city)