The life and death of the famous Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi - known as the red priest. He was invited by all European courts, but he died in poverty and disappeared in anonymity only to be rediscovered in the first half of the 20th Century. Antonio was born into a poor family and ever since childhood he had been in bad health. He became a priest and as a young violin virtuoso eventually led an orchestra of illegitimate daughters of Venice's courtesans in a convent. Soon his music and operas were known at every European court; yet a thorn in the eye of the Bishop of Venice. He tried everything to stop the red-haired priest being involved with the Venetian high society. Finally, Vivaldi succeeds on leaving Venice and accepts an invitation to the Austrian Court. Unfortunately, he arrives there shortly after the death of the Emperor and subsequently never gets the anticipated engagement. He dies one year later in poverty in Vienna.