Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (; 4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an
Italian Baroque composer,
virtuoso violinist, teacher and
cleric. Born in
Venice, he is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He is known mainly for composing many instrumental
concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty
operas. His best-known work is a series of
violin concertos known as
The Four Seasons.