Born in Venice, Caldara made his career in Mantua, Rome and Vienna, serving in the last of these from 1716 as vice-Kapellmeister at the imperial court. As a composer he was versatile and prolific, with some 90 stage works to his credit.

Vocal and Choral Music

Caldara wrote a steady series of over 40 oratorios, liturgical music, motets, and cantatas sacred and secular. His 1712 Christmas cantata Vaticini di pace (‘Prophecies of Peace’), with its personification of abstract qualities, had political relevance as the War of the Spanish Succession came to an end.