Antonio Vivaldi, A Prince in Venice

French movie collaborates with Virgin Music

Vivaldi produced large quantities of sacred and secular music in his time, but was then forgotten for almost three centuries. The Red Priest as he was nicknamed due to his red hair now gets the biopic - biographical movie - he deserves.

French-Italian Vivaldi biopic

Director Jean-Louis Guillermou opens his movie with a concert at the Ospedale della Pietà, a Venetian girls' orphanage where Vivaldi (1678-1741) is master of the violin. Vivaldi wrote numerous pieces for his pupils gaining an international reputation besides generous donations for the orphanage. But this musical genius of a prince in Venice, had to struggle to gain acceptance in his own city and with the church. Although the Red Priest was ordained, he refused to practice mass for health reasons. The Bishop of Venice couldn't help but observe that he didn't seem to have difficulties performing violin or conducting operas in Venice and elsewhere. The film spans three decades and Joseph Fiennes plays Vivaldi, also known for his Shakespeare and Martin Luther portrayals.

Today, works such as The Four Seasons are so legendary that it is difficult to understand that he remained largely forgotten until the early 20th century when his works were discovered in the monastery in Piedmont. The renaissance of Vivaldi in the Italian-French coproduction is now on show all over Europe. Besides Joseph Fiennes in the title role, are Malcolm McDowell, Jacqueline Bisset, and Gérard Depardieu. 

Antonio Vivaldi: a prince in Venice
Writer and Director: Jean Louis Guillermou
Release date: 29 August 2007 in France