Sirmen the Virtuoso Violinist

Donald Macleod follows Sirmen and her husband as they journey around Europe and perform for royalty.

Maddalena Sirmen was born in Venice in 1745 and christened Maddalena Laura Lombardini. Her poverty-stricken family were unable to support her and by the age of seven she was admitted to one of Venice’s ‘Ospedali’. The Ospedali were hospitals and orphanages set up to help the needy but also celebrated for the musical education they provided to their residents. Sirmen soon excelled in her training. By the age of fourteen she was accepted for additional music lessons in Padua with the famed violinist, Tartini, and became one of his favourite students. In 1767 she married fellow composer, Lodovico Sirmen, and was able to leave the Ospedale, at last. There followed many successful years of travelling and performing as a virtuoso violinist, often presenting her own works. Sirmen’s music was published in many leading European cities, and Leopold Mozart said of one of her works, that it was “beautifully written”. When visiting London for a third time, Sirmen decided to present herself as a singer, rather than a violinist. This proved to be a mistake and she was greatly criticised in the press. From this point onwards her reputation diminished despite further concerts, as a violinist, in Paris, Dresden and St Petersburg. Sirmen eventually settled back in Venice, where she died in 1818.

When Maddalena Lombardini married fellow composer Lodovico Sirmen, she was able at last to leave the Venetian Ospedale behind. She had formed a close bond with a priest before leaving, Don Giuseppe Terzi, and he journeyed with the married couple from this point. They travelled to Turin to perform for the King of Sardinia, to Dresden where they performed at the court there, and then on to engagements in Paris at the Concert Spirituel. Sirmen’s violin playing created a sensation and her fame travelled widely. Further concerts followed in France and Holland, performing her own works and also works by her husband, and she found publishers eager to bring her music into print.

String Quartet No 2 in E flat major (excerpt)
Lombardini Quartet

Duet in C major, Op 4 No 6
Alessia Turri, violin
Matteo Zanatto, violin

Ludovico Sirmen
Sonata in A major (Moderato)
Giovanni Guglielmo, violin
Stefania Cavedon, cello
Enrico Zanovello, harpsichord

Maddalena Sirmen
Violin Concerto No 5 in B flat major, Op 3 No 5
Piroska Vitárius, violin
Savaria Baroque Orchestra
Pál Németh, conductor

Ludovico Sirmen
Sonata in A major (Lento)
Giovanni Guglielmo, violin
Stefania Cavedon, cello
Enrico Zanovello, harpsichord

Maddalena Sirmen
String Quartet No 2 in E flat major
Lombardini Quartet

Produced by Luke Whitlock