Did
you know that the most famous orchestra in Europe at the beginning of the 18th
Century was composed of all females, most of whom had been orphaned or
abandoned as babies? These remarkable
musicians lived together in the Ospedale della Pietà, a unique orphanage in
Venice, where they were directed by Don Antonio Vivaldi, the prolific composer
who would become known for The Four
Seasons. Vivaldi, ordained a Catholic priest in 1703, maintained an
on-again, off-again relationship with the Pietà for 37 years and wrote a
countless number of pieces for its girls during that time. The main character in Kimberly Cross Teter's
debut novel, Isabella's Libretto, is
a 14-year-old cellist who lives at the Ospedale della Pietà and dreams that
Vivaldi will write a solo that features her.
Listen
to Kimberly talk about her novel and this fascinating piece of history and hear a
cellist perform in the Visitor Center on Wednesday March 4. Friends of the Garden will host a book signing and reception
at 6:00 pm. Kimberly's talk will begin at 6:30 pm. This event is free.
