(b Turin, 12 April 1716; d Moscow, 8 June 1796). Italian violinist and composer. He played in opera orchestras in Rome and Naples, and in 1748 began a concert tour, but settled in England in 1750. There he was successful as soloist, teacher and orchestral leader (notably at the King's Theatre, where his style of playing was influential). He wrote three operas (1757-65) and contributed to others, and in 1763 collaborated with Avison in the oratorio Ruth; a more popular version of 1768 was by Giardini alone. After living in Naples, 1784-90, he returned to England, but later left for Russia. His many chamber works include sonatas, trios, quartets etc. His accompanied harpsichord sonatas of 1751 and his harpsichord quintets (1767) were among the first of their types.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.