大象传媒

Donald Macleod follows Sirmen鈥檚 decline from the limelight and her return to Venice.

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鈥檚 鈥極spedali鈥�. 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鈥檚 music was published in many leading European cities, and Leopold Mozart said of one of her works, that it was 鈥渂eautifully written鈥�. 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鈥檚 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 Vit谩rius, violin
Savaria Baroque Orchestra
P谩l N茅meth, conductor

String Quartet No 6 in E major (Andantino)
Lombardini Quartet

Thomas Linley Junior
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

Maddalena Sirmen
String Quartet No 6 in E major (Con brio)
Lombardini Quartet

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

Maddalena Sirmen
Violin Concerto No 4 in C major, Op 3 No 4
Piroska Vit谩rius, violin
Savaria Baroque Orchestra
P谩l N茅meth, conductor

String Quartet No 5 in F minor
Musica Fiorita
Daniela Dolci, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock