Maddalena Sirmen And Her World

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.

Today, Donald Macleod explores Maddalena Sirmen's early life in Venice, including details of her family, and their application for Maddalena to enter the Ospedale dei Mendicanti. Maddalena was forced to leave her family behind, and a nun was assigned to be her mother figure. At the Ospedale, Sirmen was probably taught composition by the Music Director Ferdinando Bertoni. She also received lessons in Greek, Latin, French, grammar, poetry, logic and history, Sirmen would have taken part in the many liturgical services and concerts the girls performed in, including both singing and instrumental performance for which the Ospedale were famed.

Violin Concerto No 3 in A major, Op 3 No 3 (excerpt)

Stefano Montanari, violin

Arion Baroque Orchestra

Trio Sonata No 5 in G, Op 1 No 5 (Allegro Moderato)

The Vivaldi Project

Allison Nyquist, violin

Elizabeth Field, violin

Stephanie Vial, cello

Veni Creator (excerpt)

Choir of Radio Stockholm

I Solisti Veneti

Claudio Scimone, director

Trio Sonata No 5 in G, Op 1 No 5 (Rondo Allegro)

Orfeo (excerpt)

Delores Ziegler (Orfeo),mezzo-soprano

Ambrosian Opera Chorus

String Quartet No 5 in F major

Lombardini Quartet

Donald Macleod delves into the world of Venetian composer Maddalena Sirmen.

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.

Today, Donald follows Sirmen to meet a new mentor who will transform her fortunes. During Sirmen's education at the Ospedale dei Mendicanti, her musical skills developed to such a level that it was agreed by the Governors she could take additional training with the famed violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini. Tartini lived in Padua, and Sirmen travelled there with an appointed nun as companion. Sirmen's lessons went very well and soon there was a request to the Governors that she be allowed further time to study with Tartini. A Venetian aristocrat agreed to fund Sirmen's travel and living expenses during these periods away in Padua. The Governors proclaimed themselves very pleased with her progress but how would they react when she asked them to release her from the Ospedali, so she could marry?

Violin Sonata in G minor, “Devils Trill ? (excerpt)

Nicola Benedetti, violin

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Christian Curnyn, director

String Quartet No 1 in E flat major (Andante)

Musica Fiorita

Daniela Dolci, director

String Quartet No 1 in E flat major (Allegretto)

Stabat Mater

Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

Violin Concerto No 2 in E major, Op 3 No 2

Piroska Vitárius, violin

Savaria Baroque Orchestra

Pál Németh, conductor

String Quartet No 4 in B flat major

Accademia Della Magnifica Comunità

Donald Macleod follows Sirmen as she meets a new mentor who will transform her fortunes.

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

Violin Concerto No 5 in B flat major, Op 3 No 5

Piroska Vitárius, violin

Savaria Baroque Orchestra

Pál Németh, conductor

Sonata in A major (Lento)

Donald Macleod explores Sirmen's rise to fame as a virtuoso violinist in Europe.

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.

In the early 1770s Maddalena Sirmen travelled to London to perform at the concert season there, including at the famed Bach-Abel concerts. She left her husband, Lodovico, behind in Italy, with their daughter. Sirmen was a sensation in London for the first two seasons she was there, and even performed her own concertos between performances of Johann Christian Bach's oratorio Gioas, King of Judah. Soon, Sirmen was organising her own benefit concerts, and not only performed as a violinist, but also played concertos on the harpsichord.

Violin Concerto No 1 in B flat major, Op 3 No 1 (Allegro)

Zefira Valova, violin

Il Pomo d'Oro

J. C. Bach

Gioas, re di Giuda (Fe giuriamo)

Rheinische Kantorei

Das Kleine Konert

Hermann Max, director

Violin Concerto No 1 in B flat major, Op 3 No 1 (excerpt)

Sonata in G, Op 10 No 3, W. B4 (Rondeaux)

Erika Petőfi, violin

Miklós Spányi, tangent piano

String Quartet No 3 in G minor

Allegri String Quartet

Violin Concerto No 6 in C major, Op 3 No 6

Piroska Vitárius, violin

Savaria Baroque Orchestra

Pál Németh, conductor

Donald Macleod explores Maddalena Sirmen's entry into London's cultural society.

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.

Maddalena Sirmen's third visit to London for the concert season was not a success. She no longer excited the English public, who were more interested in newer, younger violin virtuosos like Thomas Linley Junior. Sirmen launched herself as a singer, instead. This did not go down well, and she was lampooned in the press. After this there followed further concerts in Italy, France, Germany, and even a period in Russia too, but her comeback attempt as a virtuoso violinist did not take flight. Sirmen, with her priest companion Don Giuseppe Terzi, eventually returned to Venice. She died in her early seventies, just a few days after Terzi.

Violin Concerto No 4 in C major, Op 3 No 4 (excerpt)

Piroska Vitárius, violin

Savaria Baroque Orchestra

Pál Németh, conductor

String Quartet No 6 in E major (Andantino)

Lombardini Quartet

The Song of Moses (Chorus: Praise be to God, and God alone)

Andrew King, tenor

Andrew Dales Forbes, bass

Holst Singers

The Parley of Instruments

Peter Holman, conductor

String Quartet No 6 in E major (Con brio)

Ludovico Sirmen

Sonata in A major (Adagio cantabile)

Giovanni Guglielmo, violin

Stefania Cavedon, cello

Enrico Zanovello, harpsichord

String Quartet No 5 in F minor

Musica Fiorita

Daniela Dolci, director

Donald Macleod explores a fiasco for Sirmen in London.