Felice Giardini

A life of 80 years brought this concert violinist to visits throughout Europe including Rome, Naples, Berlin, France, London (where he remained for over 40 years), St. Petersburg, and Moscow. Felice Giardini studied the harpsichord, violin, and singing. He studied violin with Somis in Turin and gave up the harpsichord after hearing a student of Rameau perform (Mme de St Maur). In London, he led quite a successful life performing with the Italian Opera at the King's Theatre, in the Bach-Abel concerts, and was proclaimed the greatest player in all of Europe. Compositions ranged from opera to violin sonatas and included arias as well as oratorios. The most enigmatic of Giardini's compositions were probably his early instrumental works, c. 1767, quintets for the violin, harpsichord, cello, and bass.
© Keith Johnson /TiVo