Product Description

Antonio Vivaldi's rediscovery after World War II quickly led him from obscurity to his present renown as one of the most popular 18th-century composers. Heller's biography presents the important facets of his life, his works, and his influence on music history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #836614 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-01
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 362 pages

From Library Journal
Partially revised from the original 1991 German-language version, this minutely detailed biographical and analytical study of Vivaldi's life and works by Heller (historical musicology, Univ. of Rostock, Germany) is not easy to read. Inessential details abound, and the writing is plodding and pedantic. Vivaldi wrote an enormous amount of music, and the author attempts to say something about nearly all of it, perhaps one of the problems. Still, it is useful to have all the facts in one place. For larger music collections.?Timothy J. McGee, Univ. of Toronto
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Except for his music, not much is known about Antonio Vivaldi (1678^-1741). Born in Venice to musically skilled parents, he learned music from his father and later studied for the priesthood. Ordained at 25, he said mass for only a year until his asthma forced him to retire. He then dedicated his life to performing on violin and keyboard, teaching at a girls' school, composing instrumental and vocal music, and producing his operas and pastiches. He produced operas in Vienna, traveled to Dresden to try to be a member of that court, and had moderate success composing and performing in Mantua. Heller is most concerned with Vivaldi as pioneer of the Italian concerto form. As for Vivaldi's operas, most are lost. Indeed, were it not for collections in Dresden and Turin, Vivaldi's music would be unheard today. Heller successfully describes the political and cultural world in which Vivaldi struggled to make a living at music and also shows the effect his music had on other composers of the baroque and classical periods. Alan Hirsch

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Customer Reviews

Good source for info on Vivaldi
I recently saw the dramatic play about Vivaldi (which bears the same title as this book) and became interested in learning more hard facts about the composer. I started with this bio and found it to be interesting and well-translated from its original German. It also provides some great vintage photos and illustrations. For anyone interested in learning about Vivaldi's absolutely fascinating life, I would recommend it.

Must read for Vivaldi lovers
Heller's book is the most accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive, and unbiased biography of Vivaldi yet written. While thoroughly scholarly, the book is also highly readable and absolutely packed with fascinating and enlightening information about the famous Red Priest.

This is nearly always the book I go to when I want to be sure about a certain aspect of Vivaldi's life or music. I teach a university course on Vivaldi and do not hesitate to recommend Heller's excellent biography to my students.

Sarah Bruce Kelly
Author of THE RED PRIEST'S ANNINA