and Vivaldi gave him a tongue-tied and rather foolish grin.
‘The Duke of Olemburg would let it be known that he was
delighted with this performance,’ intoned the man. ‘His
engagement diary did not allow him to remain until the end but
the Duke would like to hear more from you and offer you a due
reward later this evening. The Duke expects you at the ball to be
held at the house of Procurator Sebastiano Foscarini.’ Not even
waiting for a reply, the man pushed his way out of the hall, leaving
behind a bemused but greatly relieved Vivaldi. For an awful
moment he had actually thought the king had disliked his music
enough to abandon the hall. With an immense sigh of satisfaction
Antonio turned to embrace the praise being heaped upon him.
He had been to the music room to thank the Figlie di Coro
for their efforts, for they had really done him proud this time. His
father was waiting for him in the lane behind the Pietà. From here
it was only a short way home. Full of excitement Vivaldi described
the king’s invitation. ‘Will you come too, father?’ he asked
exuberantly, ‘Then he can hear us playing together.’ Giambattista
thought a moment. ‘It is you the king wants to see, my son, not
your old father.’ Giambattista knew himself; he would not feel at
home among all those aristocratic patricians and princes. ‘Don’t
forget your violin,’ he added with a wry smile. Antonio gave him a
wink and stormed back inside. Again Giambattista waited. Antonio
rushed back out into the lane and they walked a little way together.
Once on the Riva, the father clasped his son’s hand and wished him
luck.
With the gondolas lying impotently at rest on the ice,
Antonio had to walk the rest of the way to his destination. With a
wave to his father he made off down the quay in the direction of
Procurator Foscarini’s great house. He walked gently and thanks to
all the adrenaline at first hardly felt cold. Who will be there this
evening, he wondered. The Memmos, the Trons, undoubtedly the
Mocenigos, and certainly all the Grimanis. What amazing luck! If
the gentry see how a king appreciates my music it will open the
door to a lot of work! Once he had passed the Palazzo Ducale the
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