The Instrumentalist
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4.2 • 13 Ratings
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
Bloomsbury presents The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable, read by the Emmy nominated actor and Games of Thrones star Emilia Clarke.
Nominated for Best Performance: Narrator at The Speakies (The British Audio Awards).
The Times top ten bestseller
'As tightly tuned as a thriller' Telegraph
'A marvel' Kiran Millwood Hargrave
'Compelling, vividly described magic' Observer
'Historical fiction as it should be written' Mail on Sunday
'Remarkable' New York Times
Anna Maria may have no name, no fortune, no family. But she has her ambition, and her talent.
Her best hope lies in her teacher, Antonio Vivaldi. Soon she is his star pupil.
But as Anna Maria's star rises, not everyone is happy. Because Anna Maria's shining light threatens to eclipse that of her mentor…
She will leave her mark, whatever it takes. Her story will be heard.
'A compassionate coming-of-age tale … Constable understands the power music has to sustain us' Observer
'Had me spellbound from start to finish' Emma Stonex
'Constable infuses historical fact with richly wrought fictional details, to investigate admiration and resentment, ego and legacy' i paper
'A whirlwind of all-consuming, dizzying ambition … Spectacularly imagined' Mail on Sunday
'Vibrates with colour and passion … I was completely swept up' Elodie Harper
'An immersive, impassioned tale full of colour and sound' Guardian
Customer Reviews
*Music Extravaganza’
The audiobook
Narrated by Emilia Clarke and the author’s note by Harriet Constable
This was a fantastic debut novel. I finished it yesterday but I’m still working on a review.
The story is based on the true life of Anna Maria Della Pietà, an orphan who became a remarkable and exceptional violinist. She was taught by none other than Antonio Vivaldi, a renowned composer known for his challenging nature but his ability to spot talent.
What really captivated me was Harriet Constable’s creative licence. She gave Anna Maria synesthesia, allowing her to experience musical notes as colours.
Anna Maria’s life began as a tiny baby, born and place through a tiny hatch at the Ospedale della Pietà in 18th-century Venice, which is how she got her surname.
Babies had to be small enough to fit through the hatch, and some were forced through, often resulting in injuries.
At the orphanage, the girls learned musical instruments. Among them, Anna stood out even at eight years old. She came alive when she heard the violin, particularly when she saw the colours of the notes. It was then that she made a firm decision to become the best and rise to prominence in her chosen field.
As she grew older and advanced, Anna Maria became focused and driven. She had to be the best at all costs, which made her unlikeable but also compelling.
Her relationship with Vivaldi became strained as she improved, and she and other female orphans became part of the figlio, the orchestra.
Vivaldi often took the credit for her work, and at the time, women were never allowed to receive recognition in a male-dominated world.
Anna faced numerous difficult moments and made decisions that often put her friendships at risk.
Things became even more challenging when Vivaldi realised that she was more than just a prodigy.
Emilia Clarke’s narration was excellent, and I highly recommend this book if you’re interested in the violin and classical music.
Incidentally, we chose Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as the background music for our wedding. I used to play the violin when I was younger and I’m still passionate about it.