Although he was ordained as a priest, because of health problems he became a teacher at an orphanage for girls. Beginning as a teacher of violin, his love of music also manifested itself in composing. We think of Vivaldi primarily as a composer of instrumental concertos, yet he also wrote 49 operas. 21 of these survive, if only in fragments. One of the earliest examples of program music, Vivaldi is reputed to have written the explanatory sonnets that accompany the music.
Spring is light and airy with birds singing and streams burbling through the countryside.
Summer begins with a thunderstorm before the sun arrives, bringing languorous visits to the country, which are cut short by yet another thunderstorm that heralds the coming of autumn. It was major news in Vienna in 1799, when the greatly revered composer was reported to be engaged on a great new work. He was in his late 60s after all, an age when many men were content to do nothing. There were minimal difficulties - the old man much preferred writing music to be sung by angels than peasants, but eventually, the work was finished. It was an unqualified triumph when performed for the first time on April 24, 1801.