The Instrumentalist cover art

The Instrumentalist

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Instrumentalist

By: Harriet Constable
Narrated by: Emilia Clarke, Harriet Constable
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

 The Times top ten bestseller

‘As tightly tuned as a thriller’ Telegraph
‘A marvel’ Kiran Millwood Hargrave
‘Compelling, vividly described magic’ Observer
‘Historical fiction as it should be written’ Mail on Sunday
‘Remarkable’ New York Times


Anna Maria may have no name, no fortune, no family. But she has her ambition, and her talent.

Her best hope lies in her teacher, Antonio Vivaldi. Soon she is his star pupil.

But as Anna Maria’s star rises, not everyone is happy. Because Anna Maria’s shining light threatens to eclipse that of her mentor…

She will leave her mark, whatever it takes. Her story will be heard.

‘A compassionate coming-of-age tale … Constable understands the power music has to sustain us’ Observer
‘Had me spellbound from start to finish’ Emma Stonex
‘Constable infuses historical fact with richly wrought fictional details, to investigate admiration and resentment, ego and legacy’ i paper
‘A whirlwind of all-consuming, dizzying ambition … Spectacularly imagined’ Mail on Sunday
‘Vibrates with colour and passion … I was completely swept up’ Elodie Harper
‘An immersive, impassioned tale full of colour and sound’ Guardian©2024 Harriet Constable (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Historical Fiction Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant  
The Instrumentalist is one of the best books I have ever read. Helped a little by a deep live of classical music, but a brilliant and beautifully wowed story. Thank you.

Wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea about vivaldi before reading it. I was pleasantly surprised that many women help write vivaldi's music or at least inspire it.
The reading of this book was also very enjoyable.

Women and music

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An evocative step into 18th century Venice and a very credible account of Anna Maria delle Piteta - an outstanding violinist and orphan. Painfully revealing the submission of girls and women and their exploitation. It’s warm, engaging if very slightly over written in places - for me anyway.

Atmosphere

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this story and I had no idea that was behind Vivaldi's music. Emilia Clarks is amazing at reading this her voice is like a warm hug and she does quite well considering the foreign words. The only thing, as an Italian, I would have appreciated a native reader as some of the words, names aren't pronounced 100% correctly.

Really good story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wonderful evocative story set in 18th century Venice. Conjures a time and place from a female perspective. Lovers of music and the arts will enjoy this. Well written

Immersive story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was captivated from the very beginning of this book. Beautifully read and researched. Excellent.

The descriptions of the characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story flowed, beautifully written. Wonderful acknowledgment of hidden historical facts woven into a story

Beautifully written and read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved this book so much. Very difficult to put down as just had to read one more chapter as the story was so engaging. Looking forward to many more books from this author.

A page turner

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s a beautiful story - thoroughly enjoyed it. I found on my first listen it was difficult to take everything in but enjoyed the music, then on further listening really appreciated every word. Will listen again later.

Most enjoyable 2nd time around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The story brings to life the hardships and poverty of Venice, wonderfully narrated. A story That will be with me for many years.

Wonderful Story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews