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ANTONIO LUCIO VIVALDI
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (*March 4, 1678, Venice; †July 28, 1741, Vienna) was an Italian composer and violinist and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the Baroque era. During his career as a priest, he began composing his first pieces and gained great fame and a variety of musical commissions throughout northern Italy in the following years. The church authorities disapproved of Vivaldi’s interests outside of his intended role as a priest, leading to his eventual expulsion from the city. The artist’s reputation declined rapidly afterward, and the hoped-for success following his move to the city of Vienna eluded him, where he eventually died in poverty.
Vivaldi left behind a large body of compositional work, including 55 motets, 45 operas, and over 450 concertos, which significantly influenced the works of many of his contemporaries. Despite the outstanding quality of his works, only a small portion was published during Vivaldi’s lifetime. Many pieces fell into obscurity, as often happened with Baroque works. Most of his compositions only became known centuries after his death, thus much of his musical impact occurred posthumously.
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (*January 27, 1756, Salzburg; †December 5, 1791, Vienna) is considered one of the most famous and influential musicians and composers of the Viennese Classical period. His exceptional talent was apparent at an early age: at four years old, he played the piano and violin, and at five, he composed his first pieces. As a “wunderkind,” he soon embarked on his first concert tour through Europe to perform at the courts of nobility and established himself in the following years as a serious composer.
After his success as court concertmaster of the Salzburg Court Chapel, he settled in Vienna, where he worked as a freelance artist until his death. In addition to his great musical achievements, Mozart was also known as a bon vivant who often found himself in financial difficulties due to his extravagant lifestyle. Mozart remains one of the most frequently played and beloved composers to this day. His complete works include around 1060 titles, including numerous piano concertos, operas, orchestral works, and church music. His most famous works include the serenade “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” and “The Magic Flute,” an opera from 1791.