Barbara Strozzi

Bio

Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677) was an Italian composer and soprano active in Venice during the Baroque era. She published eight collections of vocal music, including cantatas, arias, and madrigals, making her one of the most prolific composers of secular vocal music in the mid-seventeenth century. Born in Venice, she was the adopted daughter of poet Giulio Strozzi and received musical training from Francesco Cavalli. Her works were performed in Venetian academies and private salons, where she was also known as a skilled singer. Strozzi’s compositions are noted for their expressive melodies and sensitive text setting, often exploring themes of love and longing. Her music remained largely forgotten until the twentieth century, when renewed interest in Baroque women composers brought her works back into performance and scholarship.