Antonio Fanna

Antonio Fanna was born in Treviso, in the Veneto region of Italy, on 7 April 1926. He studied economics at Ca' Foscari University in Venice and at the same time followed courses in conducting and experimental composition at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory. He often attended rehearsals of the orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice, where he met the conductor Angelo Ephrikian. In 1946 Ephrikian showed him Mario Rinaldi's recently published numerical and thematic catalogue of Vivaldi's works, and the two decided to revive the composer's music, which had been largely forgotten for almost two centuries.

Fanna and Ephrikian founded the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi in Venice in 1947. On 18 March 1947 Fanna, as president, signed a contract with Casa Ricordi, which was looking to rebuild after wartime damage, under an ambitious plan to publish 25 instrumental scores a year. Gian Francesco Malipiero was appointed artistic director and editor of the series. The administration and the archive of about 22,000 photographic frames of the manuscripts were kept at Villa delle Rose in Selvana, near Treviso, where copyists transcribed Vivaldi's notation for revision and performance.

The edition moved on from the Foa and Giordano collections in Turin to manuscripts held around the world, and in 1972, with the 530th score, the publication of Vivaldi's instrumental works was complete. In 1968 Ricordi published Fanna's thematic catalogue of the instrumental works, listing 529 compositions arranged by genre in 16 groups. Its F. numbers were in general use until Peter Ryom's RV catalogue appeared in 1974.

In 1978, for the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi's birth, Fanna donated the institute to the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice and stayed on as director. An international editorial committee was formed and critical editions of the sacred and secular vocal works, newly discovered instrumental pieces and the operas began to appear, with contributions from Michael Talbot, Peter Ryom and Reinhard Strohm. Fanna also co-edited volumes of the Quaderni Vivaldiani, including Vivaldi. Vero e falso (1992) with Talbot. He handed the direction of the institute to his son Francesco in 1997.

Alongside his musicological work Fanna was a businessman in Treviso, and he kept close ties to his home province throughout his life. His son, Francesco Fanna, succeeded him as director of the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi and continued his work. Colleagues remembered his passion, rigour and determination, and his preference for working away from the spotlight.

Antonio Fanna died on 23 October 2026, aged 100, having celebrated his 100th birthday on 7 April. His death was reported by Il Gazzettino on 24 October and by Il Giornale della Musica on 25 October. The cause of death was not made public. Federico Maria Sardelli, whose early Vivaldi research Fanna had encouraged in 1994, paid tribute with the words: "Thank you, dear father of Vivaldi studies."

Fanna is regarded as one of the main architects of the modern Vivaldi revival. The scores published by his institute turned a composer known for a handful of famous pieces into a constant presence in concert halls and recording catalogues around the world, and the institute he founded remains a leading centre of Vivaldi scholarship at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini.