Sirmen, Maddalena Laura Lombardini

Italian Classical period composer and violinist Maddalena Laura Lombardini (1745-1818?) left one of the four Ospedali or orphanage schools of Venice by one of the two means possible: She married violinist and composer Ludivico Sirmen rather than becoming a nun or remaining forever attached to the school. A promising early career was perhaps shortened by her own decision to turn from composition to performance.