In the 1600-1700’s, a wit could safely jeer that Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi did not write 450 concertos but wrote one concerto 450 times. Today we know that this couldn’t be further from the truth. So nicknamed the “Red Priest” because of his seminary background and flaming red hair. No matter what great classical music I’ve discovered in my travels, Vivaldi’s concerti and choral works continue to capture my mind & heart.

The Four Seasons is probably Antonio Vivaldi’s most popular work in modern times. But I encourage the discriminating listener to dig even deeper and discover some hidden jewels that are lesser known pieces. 

I was first introduced to Vivaldi’s music via the 1980’s film, All That Jazz, starring Roy Scheider as Joe Gideon.  Based on an autobiographical account of the late Bob Fosse, famed Broadway director and choreographer, Scheider portrays Fosse’s alter ego in a wild ride of amphetamines, alcohol, womanizing and workaholisism which ultimately leads to Fosse’s demise. The classic scene played over and over throughout the film depicts Scheider in the bathroom, commencing each day with popping a handful of uppers, dropping a couple of Alka Seltzer in a glass of water, throwing a Vivaldi cassette tape into the player, looking into the mirror and saying,”It’s showtime, folks.” 

Not being able to get this concerto out of my mind, I went on an all out search into record stores (yes, vinyl) as the movie soundtrack was released after the film was well out of the theaters. As a result of this search, which ended up being the Alla Rustica concerto featured in the movie’s bathroom scene, I continued to hit and miss, only to stumble upon a virtual wealth of other music which Vivaldi had composed.