Vivaldi’s Women: How a Venetian Orphanage Found Its Voice

The all-female ensemble mentored by the Antonio Vivaldi enjoys a revived interest today.

"Venetian Gala Concert," 1782, by Francesco Guardi. The painting depicts a Gala concert given in Venice for the Tsarevich Paul of Russia and his wife, Maria Feodorovna, by women of the Ospedale della Pietà. Alte Pinakothek, Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munchen. Cropped imaged. Public Domain

Think of some characteristic sounds of Venice: water slapping against the stones of the canals, oars dipping into the water, gondoliers chattering, the peal of church bells.

Now add one more sound: a bright ribbon of strings and voices rising from a chapel gallery where the musicians, all women, perform unseen behind metal grillwork and lace curtains.