Vivaldi's Venice [Hardcover]

Patrick Barbier (Author), Margaret Crosland (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Vivaldi, born in 1678, was one of the most influential composers and violinists of his age. This book evokes the Venice of Vivaldi's time, an essentially musical city that lived for hedonism. In Venice all the social classes mingled in their love of music-artistocrats, gondoliers, and workers would meet at all sorts of musical and theatrical entertainments and the city's carnivals went on for months at a time. Erudite and entertaining, Vivaldi's Venice is a biography of the city that was the muse of the mysterious young composer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Not strictly a tourist guide but rather a backgrounder for the music lover." -- The Arizona Daily Star

About the Author

Patrick Barbier is a professor of music at the West Catholic University in Angers, France. He is the author of The World of Castrati.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Souvenir Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0285636707
• ISBN-13: 978-0285636705
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #743,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richly informative, August 24, 2009

By 

Sarah Bruce Kelly "Author of VIVALDI'S MUSE, ... - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Vivaldi's Venice (Hardcover)

Vivaldi was a brilliantly innovative composer and performer whose works are filled with sparkling invention that still sounds fresh to us today. Yet he cannot be separated from the centuries-old culture of Venice, which was so distinctive in many ways from the rest of the early 18th-century world. Barber negotiates and elaborates this apparent paradox through a rich analysis of the Venetian musical scene in which the celebrated "Red Priest" lived and worked.

"Vivaldi's Venice" is richly informative, and discusses Vivaldi, his life, and his music within the context of Venice's lavish and unique musical, religious, and civic culture. This is a must-read for all Vivaldi enthusiasts.

Sarah Bruce Kelly
Author of THE RED PRIEST'S ANNINA

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, May 31, 2004

By 

Mr. J. S. Stallick (Brighton, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vivaldi's Venice (Hardcover)

I should just say in defence of this book by the above reviewer that the error of Vivaldi's date of birth (quoted as 1762) is likely to be a simple typo, as the date (which should read 1962!) refers to when Vivaldi's true date of birth was REDISCOVERED in the 20th Century, as stated earlier in the book.

I haven't quite finished this book but I find it very readable and sheds new light on the character of il Prete Rosso through his relationship with Venice. Enjoyable.