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Performing Arts

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Violinist, teacher, composer

Anna Maria della Pietà

Anna Maria della Pieta (c1696 - 1782) was an Italian violinist, teacher and composer who lived her whole life in the Venetian orphanage Ospedale della Pieta.

The Ospedale della Pieta was a convent, orphanage & music school in Venice established in the 14th century. By the 17th and 18th centuries it was well known for its all-female orchestra which became a major tourist attraction, in part because of Antonio Vivaldi who was the resident composer and violin teacher from 1703-1715 and from 1723 to 1740.

Anna Maria della Pieta was an orphan living in the Ospedale della Pieta from approximately 1696. By the time she was 8 her talent for music was noticed and she was taught to play the violin by Vivaldi.

According to sources, many of the concertos written by Vivaldi were written for Anna Maria.

Anna Maria composed music and performed publicly for more than 60 years. Her music attracted tourists to hear the orchestra and to hear her performances.

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