Close Up Classical with Harriet Constable and Vivaldi's Hidden Heroines

Harriet Constable is the bestselling author of The Instrumentalist - the world’s first exposé on the famous female orphans for whom all of Vivaldi's concertos were written for - one of classical music's most fascinating histories.

The music performed by the country's top soloists includes movements from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, J.S. Bach, Tartini (including the famous 'Devill's Trill' sonata). In addition, we are delighted to feature acclaimed composer Deborah Pritchard, who appears here as a sort of inspirational representation of Anna Maria della Pieta, the young prodigy violinist for whom it is said Vivaldi not only wrote his works for, but possibly with. Yet no scores of Anna Maria's actually exist, apparently burnt in a fire. The evening will include an exclusive performance of Pritchard's piece Colori Sonori, written especially in response to the extraordinary story uncovered by Harriet Constable of the female orphans for whom Vivaldi wrote his most famous works.