Maestra

Anna Maria, Chiara, Maddalena, Michielina, Santa . . . Elusive first names that appear in the margins of manuscripts or the subject of letters, but never in the history books. Just exactly who were these extraordinary virtuosa violinists who made up the figlie de coro in the Venetian orphanages of the 18th century? Antonio Vivaldi wrote violin concertos specifically for Anna Maria della Pieta, and Giuseppe Tartini’s letter to Maddalena Lombardini is still referred to today as one of the most important sources for baroque technique. This programme aims to bring the life and music of these women out of the shadows and off the page.
 
Our programme is a collaboration with the Book Hive, Norwich's much-loved independent bookstore, and with award-winning author Harriet Constable, whose debut novel, The Instrumentalist, tells the story of Anna Maria della Pieta (and, provocatively, never mentions Vivaldi by name). Interweaving music with extracts from The Instrumentalist, read by the author herself, our programme puts Norwich Baroque's own virtuosa power centre-stage, with concerto performances by violinist Rachel Stroud and cellist Kate Bennett Wadsworth. The repertoire balances favourites by composers connected to Venice's musical orphanages, such as Summer from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, with concertos dedicated to specific musicians from the figlie di coro, and, of course, music composed by the women themselves.