Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani

This Italian violinist was active in the Hapsburg court of Innsbruck, 1656-1660, director of the court music, 1676, head of an opera troupe in Naples intermittently between 1678 and 1682, and choir master for the Pistoia Cathedral. His opera "Astiage" was performed in Venice with the participation of both Corelli and Pasquini. Viviani composed operas, oratorios, cantatas, a series of demanding solfegges as well as some instrumental violin music. ~ Keith Johnson