Early 17th century Venice was known for its parties, music, women, and art. As the popularity of operas increased, so too the demand for musicians. Simultaneously, Venice was experiencing a persistent social problem, as Venetian women continued to abandon illegitimate children. The Venetian government stepped in and solved two problems in one: the orphaned girls became the much needed musicians. <br><br>In 1613, Claudio Monteverdi was appointed the director of the Basilica of San Marco. He introduced multipart harmonies and historical operas that quickly became popular. By the end of the 17th century, Venice’s season included up to 30 operas. As a result of the plague, masquerade parties, and a rise in prostitution, Venice was home to an unprecedented number of orphans. <br><br>There were four hospices renown for teaching orphans music. Originally each hospice was intended to cater for a different need: incurable diseases, homelessness, beggars and orphans, and foundlings. These four became known as the <em>Ospedali Grandi</em> and were taken over by the Venetian State in 1353, later becoming the grand conservatories that taught music to orphaned girls.<br><br>Antonio Vivaldi and Domenico Cimarosa were employed to lead orphan orchestras, while the state was responsible for caring for and training the girls. The orphans earned their keep through performances at public functions and fund-raising galas. Girls performing in public was largely frowned upon in other European societies at the time, however these exceptional performances attracted visitors from across the globe.<br>