The Instrumentalist

By: Harriet Constable

Narrated by: Emilia Clarke

Music, intoxication, and betrayal combine in this “immersive, impassioned” (The Guardian) debut novel inspired by 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—and his biggest muse.

“The Instrumentalist is more than a history lesson—with this novel, Constable has crafted an engrossing tale about an unexpected coup de musique.” —The New York Times

Anna Maria della Pietà was destined to drown in one of Venice’s canals. Instead, she became the greatest violinist of the 18th century.

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.

From the opulent palaces of Venice to its mud-licked canals, The Instrumentalist is a “searing portrait of ambition and betrayal” (Elizabeth MacNeal, author of The Doll Factory). It is the story of one woman’s irrepressible ambition and rise to the top. It is also the story of the orphans of Venice who overcame destitution and abuse to make music, and whose contributions to some of the most important works of classical music, including “The Four Seasons,” have been overlooked for too long.

For fans of The Queen’s Gambit and Fingersmith, The Instrumentalist is an “enthralling, passionate, vivid” (Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies) exploration of art and ambition, genius and exploitation, and loss and triumph.

©2024 Harriet Constable (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

the color of music

This is the story of Anna Maria Della Pieta. She is an orphan, raised in Ospitalia Della Pieta in Venice. She is a historical woman and her story is full of the many details of her life. It was hard to put it down. The narrator did an excellent performance. Please listen to Vivaldi's 4 Seasons and see the colors as Anna Maria did.

Brilliant

Captivating, kept me rapt, calling to go on to reveal what would come next. Wonderfully satisfying. I laughed out loud while walking outside listening.

Gripping and beautiful

This story grabs from the very first! I was moved and couldn’t put it down!

Descriptive and mesmerizing

The eloquence of the author’s descriptions of feelings, sights, music and situations was impressive. A work of art. I loved learning about this part of history that, without this book, may not have been brought to light.

BEAUTIFUL- Must Read

This book is written so beautifully! The narrator makes the words come alive! An absolute must read!

Republic of Music

My review title refers to a phrase the author and her characters often use to describe the scene in Venice when many notable Italian contributions to classical music were composed and performed. The author does an amazing job of bringing the Republic alive, engaging all the senses.

The protagonist in this tale is a real historical figure and it’s great that her story is being brought to light. (This is not the first novel to do that.). She’s arrogant and somewhat beastly at times, but her single-mindedness leads to magnificent achievements. The author truly excels at describing her anxieties and especially her pleasure when she triumphs, as she often does.

I found it slightly troubling that the novel’s deviations from known facts about Anna Maria have the effect of denigrating Vivaldi, who was her mentor. Maybe that’s deserved and maybe not, but this is fiction, not a biography, so it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. In any case, it’s an absorbing, informative and beautifully written piece.

Rich and vivid

So rich in detail and history told with vivid color capturing your attention within the first few phrases!

Wonderful unique story

Loved learning about the amazingly talented women musicians and composers of the 1700s whose stories need to be brought to the light

Women’s Role in History Ignored- Once Again

Reinforced my appreciation and frustration at how women’s role in history has been intentionally lessened or obliterated.

The colors of music

The portrayal of music as colors by Anna Maria or Vivaldi’s feast is a picture of the genius these two musician composers. The author brings Venice culture to life. The history of the orphans and their musical talent is captivating. Hard to put the book down!