start looking for their dinner, the schedule is running hopelessly
late. But the Emperor is enjoying himself immensely and has
completely lost track of time. At last the two men part company;
not, however, before Vivaldi has promised his His Majesty a hand-
written copy of his Opus IX. After all, anyone can buy a printed
edition, and in any case, Charles has his objections to a number of
sections. He has clearly indicated to Vivaldi what is to his taste and
what he misses in the work, and Vivaldi has promised to send him a
new copy at the first possible opportunity. Charles VI, though, is
determined that Antonio shall deliver it to him personally in Vienna.
And an invitation from the Emperor is not one to be refused.
Once homeward bound, the Venetian mission can only be
judged to have been a success. At least, according to Vivaldi. The
Senate will have to dream up a more fruitful plan for getting the
economy back on its feet.
It is a good year before Giambattista regains his will to live, and
then he spends more and more of his time with his few remaining
friends. Whenever he returns home, it is to the imagined sound of
Camilla’s voice welcoming him across the threshold. The pain goes
on and on. The house begins to get on his nerves and he has the
urge to flee; just get as far away from here as possible. Does
Antonio fancy another trip to Rome?
But time has not stood still, and Rome has become a closed
chapter for Antonio. He understands from Cardinal Ottoboni that
‘The theatre there is dominated by music from Naples.’
Antonio has another suggestion for his father. ‘Why don’t
we go north instead?’ he asks, pointing at the bundled stacks of
manuscripts lying patiently waiting for a year now. ‘I have a little
parcel to deliver in Vienna,’ he grins. ‘If we go in that direction we
should find a few addresses at which we are welcome.’
Over the years he has built up a solid group of clients,
some but not all of whom have visited Venice. Invitations to play in
palace and castle have also been accumulating, and until now the
priest has held back on these. But now that Giambattista has itchy
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