Antonio Vivaldi was a renowned Italian composer and violinist who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in Venice on March 4, 1678, to a father who was also a professional violinist and taught him to play from an early age. Vivaldi became a priest in 1703, but soon stopped celebrating mass due to his chronic health problems, which may have been bronchial asthma. He was nicknamed "Il Prete Rosso" ("The Red Priest") because of his red hair.