In this enthralling new novel, Barbara Quick re-creates eighteenth-century Venice at the height of its splendor and decadence. A story of longing and intrigue, half-told truths and toxic lies, Vivaldi’s Virgins unfolds through the eyes of Anna Maria dal Violin, one of the elite musicians cloistered in the foundling home where Antonio Vivaldi—known as the Red Priest of Venice—is maestro and … composer.
Fourteen-year-old Anna Maria, abandoned at the Ospedale della Pietà as an infant, is determined to find out who she is and where she came from. Her quest takes her beyond the cloister walls into the complex tapestry of Venetian society; from the impoverished alleyways of the Jewish Ghetto to a masked ball in the company of a king; from the passionate communal life of adolescent girls competing for their maestro’s favor to the larger-than-life world of music and spectacle that kept the citizens of a dying republic in thrall. In this world, where for fully half the year the entire city is masked and cloaked in the anonymity of Carnival, nothing is as it appears to be.
A virtuoso performance in the tradition of Girl with a Pearl Earring, Vivaldi’s Virgins is a fascinating glimpse inside the source of Vivaldi’s musical legacy, interwoven with the gripping story of a remarkable young woman’s coming-of-age in a deliciously evocative time and place.
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A great read set in Venice in the 17th century where an orphaned girl becomes one of Vivaldi’s preferred violinists.
About a quarter of the way through I realized this story was based on fact. A quick search on Spotify gave me the music Vivaldi wrote for the virtuosos at this orphanage. The book has a wonderful pace, well written story and a nice ending.
I liked this book. The story dragged a little for me. It was an interesting read due to it’s place in Italian history.
I really enjoyed the look into 17th century life into Vienna. The story flowed but I found myself spending too much time looking things up in the glossary. I’m sure the author was trying to add historical authenticity to this novel, but personally I would have preferred fewer Italian words.
A fun read. Not too deep, just good beach reading.
Well researched historical fiction with great descriptions of life in Venice from the point of view of a nun who is a pupil of Antonio ivaldi.
Highly recommended.
A beautiful blend of historical facts and imaginative human interactions that fleshes out the personalities of musical giants who lived or worked in beautiful Renaissance Venice.
I liked it but it seemed to drag in places.
I lost track of some of the characters and somehow became confused with who was whom. Otherwise it would have been 5 stars.
If you enjoy classical music, in particular that of Vivaldi, you will find it difficult to put this book down. Based on real characters and accurate descriptions of locations (if you’ve never visited Venice, you’ll want to after finishing this book), the author’s research is impeccable and her characters are warm and human. Don’t miss this one!
Too long and slow.
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. So fascinating to see life inside an orphanage run by nuns. Takes place in Venice of old. I read this while listening to Vivaldi which made it even more perfect. The technical aspects of the music were so great. The orphans were trained in classical music..and you could almost hear them playing. …
I enjoyed reading it. It was informative. Good stories usually come from using facts as a base.
I’m a music historian who has written often about Vivaldi’s music for concert program notes. This well-researched historical novel gives a very vivid account of what life was like for the orphaned women who grew up to form Vivaldi’s musical ensemble, one that was so famous that people flocked from all over Europe to hear it. Vivaldi himself was a …