The Instrumentalist

While the orchestra provides many opportunities for the orphaned girls, the novel examines how such opportunities come with strict limits due to gender. Vivaldi’s willingness to use his students’ work without proper credit reflects the broader sexism of 18th-century Venice, revealing the historical erasure of women’s creative labor.

Vivaldi first begins to exploit the creativity of the figlie di coro through the contest that he holds to grant the most talented among them the “opportunity” to work “with him” on his composition. He informs them: “I have been tasked with composing something already, for the war effort against the Turks in Corfu. I will hold a competition among the figlie to help me with it” (137). The girls view this as a chance to be singled out by their teacher, but to Vivaldi it is a way to decrease his labor without relinquishing any of his glory: He will not credit his assistant for her contributions. This contest reflects Vivaldi’s tendency to manipulate his pupils, as he misrepresents the contest as well as his own intentions without any true regard for the girls’ feelings or careers.

Vivaldi begins to exploit Anna Maria when she becomes his composing assistant, noticing her talent but refusing to nurture it for its own sake.