Luigi Boccherini: biography and creativity

Today we will tell you who Luigi Boccherini is. His biography and features of the creative path will be considered further. This person can rightly be considered a great composer and virtuoso cellist of Italy of the XVIII century. It was he who took an active part in the development of such a musical genre as a string quartet.

Boccherini was a representative of the music of Viennese classicism and rococo. It can also be attributed to the students of Haydn. The styles of these composers are partly reflected in his works. At one time Luigi was even joked, calling him Haydn's wife, so closely did he communicate with the creations of the Austrian creator. During his life he made a huge contribution to world culture. From his pen came 30 symphonies, more than 90 string quartets (Haydn owns 83), 2 operas, 137 quintets for stringed instruments and several for pianoforte, as well as a huge number of trios and sonatas.

The "musical" origin of Boccherini

Our hero was born in the winter of 1743. His native city was Lucca (Italy). The composer had musical roots. His father Leopoldo was a famous double bass player, a master of his craft. Most of his life he worked in a local orchestra. Ever since his early childhood, his father had taught Luigi Boccherini a cello game, since the double bass did not fit the little boy in size. A few years later, the boy was placed under the care of the abbot Domenico Bannucci, who was the head of the local high school and an excellent cellist in combination. So, at the age of 12 the boy began to perform solo in his province, and a little later went to work in the orchestra of the city.

Brothers and sisters were also creative personalities. Two of his sisters were professional dancers, and the brother of Giovanni also danced. By the way, his pen belongs to several poetic books and a libretto for Salieri, and a little later for Haydn.

Confession

Glory came to Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini almost immediately. To continue his education, he went to Rome. There he was taken under his wing by the head of the music department of St. Peter's Basilica. To expand his knowledge, the young musician often went to concerts Tartini, Giardini, Pugni. This affected the change in the style of his game and added to his life a kind of experience.

A few years later, Boccherini returned home. After one of his speeches, he was invited, together with his father, to work in the orchestra of the Vienna Imperial Theater. It was here that he was able to get to know more about the work of Joseph Haydn. In Vienna, his debut as a composer also took place, after which several more of his concerts took place.

Performing style

In the summer of 1764, Luigi Boccherini began working in the chapel of the Lucca Republic. In parallel, he played in the orchestra, led by Giovanni Sammartini. During this period he works on his performing style. Here the musician met the young violinist Philip Manfredi, who became his close friend, pupil and colleague. Manfredi was able to present his work at one of the public concerts organized by Boccherini.

Quartet activities of our hero in the 60s are closely connected with the creativity of virtuoso musicians: Nardini, Cambini and his friend Manfredi.

World glory Boccherini

In 1766, the father of Luigi Boccherini died. After that, the composer did not want to stay in his native province. Having gathered all his comrades, he goes with concerts in Northern Italy. The endpoint for them was Paris. The first appearance was observed in the salon of baron von Bage, who was one of the best in the capital. After this speech, the musicians started talking all over Paris. Here was published the first collection of works by Boccherini and Manfredi.

Talented musicians were immediately noticed. Some time later, an Italian ambassador came with them and invited them to Madrid to the court of Charles III. Infante Luis, the brother of the king, was so impressed by the composer's talent that he accepted his work as a court cellist. During his stay in the royal chambers Luigi wrote 6 symphonies, more than 20 quintets and quartets (including the famous 6 strings). Most of them were dedicated to his great admirer Luis.

While the cellist lived in Madrid, he married. His favorite woman for him was Clementine Pelicho. They had 5 children, whom he had to bring up alone, when in 1785 his wife died. At the same time, the last days of life and his patron of the Infanta came. It was hard for the musician to survive, and even with the children. He decides to go to work at the court of Frederick II. King adored classical music and supported the work of Boccherini. The composer writes compositions for the Prussian court.

Once again Luigi decided to marry in 1787. But after a while he lost the second one with his three daughters. The great composer was on the verge of poverty. Creativity of income already practically did not bring, and for physical work there was not enough health which by that time was already shattered. In 1805, our hero died of a disease that tormented him the last few years of his life.

The legacy of the composer

Luigi Boccherini lived for 62 years. During this time he managed to create more than 450 musical creations. And these are only those that are known. His collection includes a wide variety of genres: symphonies, trios, quartets, quintets, oratorios, masses and cantatas. He had authority among composers in due time and influenced the formation of many musicians after him.