Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)

Antonio Vivaldi, nicknamed "il Prete Rosso" (the Redheaded Priest), was an ordained priest and a composer, as well as a famous virtuoso violinist. His best-known work is The Four Seasons, a series of 4 violin concerti. According to his own account, Vivaldi had become a priest in 1703 against his will and after a year he was no longer active in this role. He spent most of his life working at the Ospedale della Pietà in his native Venice – which, though often termed an orphanage, was actually a home for the girl children of noblemen and their mistresses. Many of Vivaldi's concerti were created as exercises to play for and with his many talented pupils.