One of today's most widely performed composers, Antonio Vivaldi was an equally acclaimed artist in his own lifetime, whose career was as fascinating as it was atypical. Vivaldi was born in the dynamic, liberal Republic of Venice in 1678, the son of a barber and violinist. Alongside his violin studies, the young virtuoso embarked on an ecclesiastical career. He was hired as a music teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà... see more