Vivaldi’s Virgins

A Novel

By: Barbara Quick

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rich in history, color, and imagination, a remarkable novel that pairs the seductive lost world of a creative legend with the coming of age of a young girl guided by an artistry all her own

In Barbara Quick's luminous novel, 18th-century Venice comes to life in all its splendor and decadence. The Grand Inquisitor's spies lurk everywhere, and yet the city's inhabitants abandon themselves to the revelry and masques of Carnival for half the year. This is the world as seen beyond the barred windows of her cloister by 14-year-old Anna Maria dal Violin, one of the orphan musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà, where Antonio Vivaldi is resident priest and composer. 

Anna Maria is inspired to ever greater musical achievement by Vivaldi, who is as famous for his flouting of the rules as for his flaming red hair. Both the adolescent Anna Maria, writing letters to her unknown mother - and her older self, looking back - unfold the tale of her personal and artistic awakening. Extraordinary musical talent, determination, and not-always-trustworthy friends allow Anna Maria to discover Venice in all its danger and glory, from the palaces of the elite to the impoverished alleyways of the Jewish ghetto. The story penetrates the heart of what it means to be a musician, as well as what it means to long for love.

©2007 Barbara Quick (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Poignant coming of age story

This beautifully written and beautifully read novel is a masterpiece. The story moves gracefully from one wonderful episode to another The novel tells the stories of the musicians and singers, all women, young and old, of the Ospedale della Pietà, Orphans Hospital, in Venice, led and taught by the brilliant composer Antonio Vivaldi. The lives of the women who live isolated from society in a cloistered environment are nevertheless incredibly rich and full of excitement. Their role in society is to sing god's praises in order to gain divine protection for the city of Venice and it rulers. But as young women should, they also see their lives and wishes in a very different light. The city of Venice comes magically alive during one of its most magnificent periods, the early part of the 18th century (1700s), The heroine of the story, Anna Maria dal Violin, is a musical prodigy. Known to her friends by the nickname Anina, her wish is to know the identity of her mother since Anina was left abandoned as an infant in the scafetta, a niche in the wall of the church of the Ospedale. The story is both historic and contemporary, striking a distinctly feminist note among the young women who wish to escape their prison.

Baraba Quick's writing is both lyrical and musical as befits the story itself. I did not want the story to end. It was a magical time while it lasted. I hope to hear more from this gifted author soon.

A treat for fans of historical fiction “lite”

A well written and well narrated novel for those of us who enjoy historical fiction. I particularly enjoyed it because I love the city of Venice. Entertaining, the right length and very well narrated. It will not displease fans of the genre.

boring read anything else

struggled to read. I wanted to stop after ch3 but it was a bookclub selection. it was time in my life I will never get back. I started cleaning while listening it was so I did not feel like I was wasting life.

Sueños de Venezia

Para alguien que nunca ha estado en Venezia pero adora la música y la cultura es un placer escuchar esta novela. Te pone a soñar y toca una fibra religiosa que es dificil de describir. Los personajes son entrañables y estimulan a seguir conociendo la cultura , música y sociedad de la época.