Classical music: Jupiter Ensemble’s Vivaldi program a concert for all seasons

When: Sunday, March 19, 3 p.m.

Audiences love the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s recurring holiday performances of The Four Seasons, and our choirs frequently tackle his best-known Gloria. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of diverse repertoire from the Venetian master.

The son of a violin-playing barber, Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678. In light of his limited prospects for advancement, Vivaldi studied for the priesthood and was ordained at age 25. He became known as The Red Priest — for his hair colour, not his politics.

We might question the depth of his religious vocation, but as a cleric-cum-musician Vivaldi was able to instruct the young ladies of the Ospedale della Pietà, one of the Serene Republic’s so-called Foundling Hospitals.