Baroque composer Barbara Strozzi (1619-1977) was born in Venice, the illegitimate child of a servant. She was adopted into the Strozzi family and received enthusiastic support from her adoptive family in her musical pursuits. Strozzi not only composed prolifically (regardless of gender, she was the most prolific composer of printed secular vocal music in Venice at this time), but she was also a performer. She was a student of Cavalli’s and her achievements were recognized and respected in her time. Though relatively little is known about her life, scholars agree that she was easily the most influential female composer of the seventeenth century.

Many of her vocal works are still published, and her life and work maintain significant academic interest. More information can be found here.