Born in Venice, Dec 9, 1745
Died in Venice, May 18, 1818
Born Maddalena Laura Lombardini
- Sirmen was a Venetian singer, violinist and composer.
- Sirmen studied music at the Ospedale dei Mendicanti, one of Venice’s charity music schools for girls. However, she was probably not charity student; she likely chose to enroll there to participate in a quality all-girls’ music education.
- Sirmen also studied violin with Giuseppe Tartini.
- In 1767, Sirmen married the violinist Ludovico Sirmen, with whom she concertized throughout Europe. After 1771, she toured Europe on her own as a violinist and singer, appearing in London at the Bach-Abel concerts, as well as Paris, St. Petersburg, Dresden, and other cultural centers.1
Biography from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy
Sources
- Elsie Arnold, “Sirmen [Syrmen; née Lombardini], Maddalena [Madelena] Laura,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed July 1, 2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000025891.