"V" is for Vivaldi

One of my favourite composers is the Baroque genius Antonio Vivaldi who hails from the city of Venice. I love his stirring set of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. If you’d like to listen to my favourite concerto, follow this link to a performance of Spring on YouTube. 

Performances of Vivaldi’s music are often held at the church of Santa Maria della Pieta, now known as Vivaldi’s church, on the Riva degli Schiavone not far from Piazza San Marco.

Santa Maria della Pieta, Vivaldi's Church

Another popular concert venue is the ballroom of Ca’ Rezzonico in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood. This beautiful palazzo on the Grand Canal is now the site of the Museum of Eighteenth Century Venice.

Ballroom of Ca' Rezzonico, Venice

We didn't attend any concerts during our stay because I'd been to a performance of The Four Seasons in London a few years ago (and my daughter's not a fan of classical music) but it would have been amazing to hear Vivaldi's greatest work performed in such beautiful surroundings in his hometown of Venice.

Performance of The Four Seasons, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London

The Four Seasons is also now celebrated in a pizza, the Quattro Stagione. This pizza is divided into four sections and the ingredients on each section represent the seasons: artichoke hearts for spring; olives for summer; mushrooms for autumn; and prosciutto for winter.

Quattro Stagione Pizza

I love Vivaldi. I love pizza. It’s not hard to guess what I chose from the restaurant menu!

What's your favourite kind of pizza?

Next:  "W" is for Wishes