STEPPING BACK IN TIME WITH
ITALIAN MUSICAL HISTORY
Several
years ago, I participated in a local Independent Author Book Festival and was
delighted to meet Sarah Bruce Kelly, with whom I shared a table. During the
lulls of typical down time, we chatted and discovered that we have much in
common. We traded books and became mutual fans and supporters of our works.
My review of Kelly’s Vivaldi’s Muse offers a peek into the subject matter that you can anticipate devouring:
Annina
Giro is a spunky, young girl who knows exactly what she wants--to be a famous
opera singer. She is enduring life with an emotionally detached mother and a
father who doesn't know what to do after his wife abruptly leaves, and
circumstances beyond his control are sending his business spiraling into a
disastrous state. Fragile Annina is destined to study music in Venice upon the
offer to be sponsored by the ill-intentioned, wealthy Duke of Massa Carrara.
Thus begins her struggle to survive and even excel in the highly competitive world of Italian opera. By the hand of Providence, she is finally able to begin her musical training under Antonio Vivaldi, renowned maestro and Priest. Their twenty-some year platonic (only they know for certain) relationship was the topic of rumors and gossip throughout the opera community and beyond. Could Annina ever find love when she compared every man she met to her beloved mentor, Antonio Vivaldi?
Sarah Bruce Kelly tells this fascinating story following extensive research on the characters and the subject matter. She transports us back to 18th century Italy in such a descriptive manner, the reader can easily feel like a casual observer positioned directly into the sidelines of the setting. Highly recommended!
Thus begins her struggle to survive and even excel in the highly competitive world of Italian opera. By the hand of Providence, she is finally able to begin her musical training under Antonio Vivaldi, renowned maestro and Priest. Their twenty-some year platonic (only they know for certain) relationship was the topic of rumors and gossip throughout the opera community and beyond. Could Annina ever find love when she compared every man she met to her beloved mentor, Antonio Vivaldi?
Sarah Bruce Kelly tells this fascinating story following extensive research on the characters and the subject matter. She transports us back to 18th century Italy in such a descriptive manner, the reader can easily feel like a casual observer positioned directly into the sidelines of the setting. Highly recommended!
Book Description
VIVALDI'S MUSE
is an award-winning historical novel based on over a decade of ground-breaking
research by music historian/author Sarah Bruce Kelly. The story reveals the
truth about the intriguing and mysterious relationship of priest/composer
Antonio Vivaldi and his famous "Muse" Anna Girò.
Summary by Sarah Bruce Kelly
She eventually joins him in Venice, but her road to theatrical success is rife with obstacles such as malicious rival singers, disparaging impresarios, and unscrupulous noble patrons. Rumors about the nature of Annina's relationship with her beloved mentor, Vivaldi, abound and lead to dire problems yet, ironically, draw them closer together. But her growing guilt about her secret longing for him, complicated by her inherent fears of rejection and abandonment, threaten to poison their relationship from within. In the end she discovers that their love for each other has grown into something that transcends their personal relationship¾ and she finds true love when she least expects it.
About the Author
Sarah Bruce Kelly is a professional musician and scholar of
music history. She holds Masters degrees in Liberal Arts and Music and is the
author of two previous historical novels: The
Red Priest’s Annina and Jazz Girl. She lives on the South
Carolina Coast with her husband, Frank, and teaches Latin, Italian and Fine
Arts at a private school and local university.
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| Sarah Bruce Kelly |
Visit with Sarah at http://www.belcantopress.com and take some time to absorb this story of Italian musical history!
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Just a special note: If you are intrigued by all things Italy, you may want to travel with four non-Italian speaking female tourists on an unguided tour of Italy by reading From Italy with Love & Limoncello. Visit http://www.awriterspresence.com for links to all formats including print, Kindle and Nook. You will walk every step of the journey beside us!
I'll be seeing you soon with another awesome book recommendation and review!!
Mary Anne
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