The true story of Anna Maria della Pietà, a Venetian orphan and violin prodigy who studied under Antonio Vivaldi and ultimately became his star musician.
Anna Maria has only known life inside the Pietà, an orphanage for children born of prostitutes. But the girls of the Pietà are lucky in a sense: most babies born of their station were drowned in the city’s canals. And despite the strict rules, the girls are given singing and music lessons from an early age. The most promising musicians have the chance to escape the fate of the rest: forced marriage to anyone who will have them.
Anna Maria is determined to be the best violinist there is—and whatever Anna Maria sets out to do, she achieves. After all, the stakes for Anna could not be higher. But it is 1704 and she is a girl. The pursuit of her ambition will test everything she holds dear, especially when it becomes clear that her instructor, Antonio Vivaldi, will teach Anna everything he knows—but not without taking something in return.
Harriet Constable is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker living in London. She has written for The New York Times, The Economist, and the BBC, and is a grantee of the Pulitzer Center and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She grew up playing the flute and piano and singing with her mother, a classically trained pianist and singer.
There’s something truly beautiful about Constable’s debut, The Instrumentalist. Its raw and genuine, outlining an incredible tale of determination, hard work and persistence as Anna Maria chases her dream of becoming the greatest violinist of the 18th century. Firstly, Anna Maria is a standout protagonist. You can really feel her strength seeping through the book’s words as though she personally penned the novel. You’ll be left in awe after seeing all of the highs and lows from her lengthy career.
Constable’s writing is swift, smooth and flows like a river full of delicious caramel syrup – it’s so sweet and yummy! Admittedly, reading always makes me tired, even though I love it, but when reading The Instrumentalist, I felt energised and excited. What was going to happen to Anna Maria? Will Antonio Vivaldi take her in as his student? The relationship between the student and her teacher was brilliantly illustrated as the two attempt to stand against the social norms of the 1700s.
Speaking of the 1700s, my favourite part of the book was its incredibly detailed setting. Though I have never been to Venice in person, after reading The Instrumentalist, I feel like I know the Italian city inside and out. Constable has done an immaculate job at placing the reader into the historical setting with its cottages, canals, and of course, the classical music. As a trained musician herself, you can feel the passion that Constable has for both music and artists who created the classic like Anna Maria della Pietà. Now that I’ve finished it, it’s time for a reread. What a masterpiece!
My writing routine starts at 8 AM with a morning walk to clear my mind before diving into emails and briefly checking social media. By 8:30, I focus on my current project, though sometimes I shift to an interview or blog post. I write until lunch, taking short breaks to recharge with coffee or sunshine.
My writing routine kicks off at 8 AM with a refreshing morning walk to clear my thoughts. Afterward, I dive into emails and quickly check social media to stay updated. By 8:30, I’m deep into my current project, although I occasionally shift to interviews or blog posts. I keep writing until lunch, pausing for short breaks to recharge with some coffee or sunshine. If you’re looking for a break or something to unwind with, you can check https://kingjohnniecasinologin.net/ out this site for entertainment.
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