Mantua and the 4 Seasons

Birth and family Childhood, priesthood, early musical training Violin teacher The melodrama Mantua and the 4 Seasons The Teatro alla Moda by Benedetto Marcello Success in Rome and in Europe Anna and Paolina Giraud The last decade The instrumental works published in life Musical life in Venice in the 1700s (composers: Albinoni, Lotti, Marcello, Handel, Hasse, Porpora, Galuppi ...) Musical life in Venice in the 1700s (the places: the Basilica, the Churches, the Theaters, the Schools ...)

In 1716 the Pietà decided not to temporarily renew the contract with Vivaldi: perhaps his persistent refusal to say Mass, his frenetic work as a composer and impresario, and perhaps even his difficult character, led the Pietà not to approve his behavior... Thus, in 1717 he left the Pietà and moved to Mantua until 1720, appointed by Prince Filippo as "Master of the Chamber Chapel": this meant that he had to write music for all the official occasions. He also wrote cantatas, instrumental music and melodramas.

It seems that the advanced draft of The Four Seasons dates back to this period, then published in 1725 in Opera VIII, a true descriptive musical poem, still today one of the greatest musical successes in history of all time.