Luigi Boccherini

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Lucca, Italy (1743 – 1805)

Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini (1743–1805) was a classical-era composer and cellist from Italy.

Boccherini was born on 19th February 1743 in Lucca, Italy, to a musical family. His father, a cellist and double bass player, sent Luigi to study in Rome in 1757 and, after various concert tours, in 1769 his talents brought him to the Spanish court in Madrid, where he was employed by Don Luis, the younger brother of King Charles III. There he flourished under royal patronage, until one day when the King expressed his disapproval at a passage in a new trio, and ordered Boccherini to change it. The composer, no doubt irritated with this intrusion into his art, doubled the passage instead, leading to his immediate dismissal.

Among his patrons was the French consul Lucien Bonaparte, as well as King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, himself an amateur cellist, flutist, and avid supporter of the arts. Boccherini fell on hard times following the deaths of his Spanish patron, two wives, and two daughters, and he died in poverty on 28th May 1805, being survived by two sons.

He wrote a large amount of chamber music, including over a hundred string quintets for two violins, viola, and two cellos (a type which he pioneered, in contrast with the then common scoring for two violins, two violas, and one cello), nearly a hundred string quartets, and a number of string trios and sonatas (including at least nineteen for the cello), as well as a series of guitar quintets. His orchestral music includes around thirty symphonies and twelve virtuoso cello concertos.
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  • Artur_UFRJ

    This dude surely can sound like Haydn and Mozart.

    last month
  • aytacaktas

    poor man :( ..

    March 2012
  • LordsOfTheStorm

    Well, Brilliant classics has nine volumes of the quintets available (nearly half of his body of quintets), but I don't know of a collection of quartets.

    March 2012
  • Stream1E

    Anyone know of the most complete set of Boccherini quartets there is available?

    February 2012
  • Synesthesis

    real beautiful compositions, especially the symphony op. 12 and almost all quintets.

    February 2012
  • NefandusDeus

    "In dire need of a new album." [2]

    December 2011
  • l4tency

    Great quintets, great symphonies.

    December 2011
  • laurelizabuff

    lui era guapo

    November 2011
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