"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."