A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sirmen, Maddalena
SIRMEN, or SYRMEN, Maddalena Lombardini de, a distinguished violinist, was born at Venice in 1735, and educated at the Conservatorio dei Mendicanti there. On leaving this institution she went to study with Tartini at Padua. Many letters, still extant, from the great maestro to his girl-pupil, testify to the keen interest he took in her artistic career; one in particular contains long and detailed advice as to the direction her technical studies should take, valuable to any young violinist. The autograph of this letter is at Venice; a German translation of it may be found in J. A. Hiller's 'Lebensbeschreibungen beruhmter Musik-gelehrten' (translated by Burney).
For some time the young virtuoso, travelled about Italy with brilliant success, and was considered a worthy rival of Nardini. She eventually married Luigi de Sirmen, a violinist, and chapel-master at Bergamo. In 1761 they went to Paris, and played together a concerto for two violins at the 'Concert spirituel.' At these concerts, where Madame Sirmen was much admired, she produced several compositions of her own.
She next went to London, where her brilliant playing made a considerable sensation. It would seem, however, that she was unable to sustain the high position she took at first, for in 1774 we find her accepting an engagement to sing small parts in operas. In 1782 she was concert-singer at the Court of Saxony. She died towards the end of the century.
The following compositions of Madame Sirmen's were published:—6 Trios for 2 violins and cello (Amsterdam); 3 Concertos for violin, op. 2 (ditto.); 3 concertos for violin, op. 3 (ditto.). Another concerto is mentioned by J. A. Hiller as having been engraved at Venice.