| Giovanni Bottesini |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT GIOVANNI BOTTESINI | |
| 1821 births | |
| 1889 deaths | |
| people from the province of cremona | |
| classical double-bassists | |
| italian composers | |
| italian musicians | |
| romantic composers | |
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Giovanni Bottesini ( December 22 , 1821 - July 7 , 1889 ) was an Italian Romantic Composer , Conductor , and a Double Bass Virtuoso . BIOGRAPHY Born in s for solo playing. This money financed the acquisition of an instrument of Carlo Antonio Testore , and a globe-trotting career as "the Paganini of the Double Bass" was launched. On leaving Milan he spent some time in America and also occupied the position of principal double-bass in the theatre at Havana . Here his first opera, ''Cristoforo Colombo'', was produced in 1847 . In 1849 he made his first appearance in England , playing double bass solos at one of the Musical Union concerts. After this he made frequent visits to England, and his extraordinary command of his unwieldy instrument gained him great popularity in London and the provinces. Apart from his triumphs as a performer, Bottesini was a conductor of European reputation, and was conductor at the Théâtre des Italiens in Paris from 1855 to 1857 where his second opera, ''L'Assedio di Firenze'', was produced in 1856. When conducting opera, Bottesini would frequently bring his double bass on stage during the intermission to play fantasies on the evening's opera. His Fantasies on '' Lucia Di Lammermoor '', '' I Puritani '' and '' Beatrice Di Tenda '' are virtuosic tours de force that are still popular with those who are highly accomplished on the instrument. In 1861 and 1862 he conducted at Palermo , supervising the production of his opera ''Marion Delorme'' in 1862, and in 1863 at Barcelona . During these years he diversified the toils of conducting by repeated concert tours through the principal countries of Europe. In 1871 he conducted a season of Italian, opera at the Lyceum theatre in London, during which his opera ''Ali Babà'' was produced, and at the close of the year he was chosen by Verdi to conduct the first performance of '' Aida '', which took place at Cairo on December 27 , 1871 . Bottesini wrote three operas besides those previously mentioned: ''Il Diavolo della Notte'' (Milan, 1859); ''Vinciguerra'' (Paris, 1870); and ''Ero e Leandro'' (Turin, 1880), the last named to a Libretto by Arrigo Boito , which was subsequently set by Luigi Mancinelli . He also wrote ''The Garden of Olivet'', a devotional Oratorio (libretto by Joseph Bennett ), which was produced at the Norwich festival in 1887, eleven string quartets, a quintet for string quartet and double bass, and many works for the double bass, including two Concerto s for solo double-bass, the Gran Duo Concertante (originally) for two double basses, Passione Amorosa for two double basses, and numerous pieces for double bass and piano. Shortly before his death, in 1888 he was appointed director of Parma Conservatory on Verdi's recommendation. Bottesini died in Parma on the 7th of July 1889. His solo works are an uncommon performance today; not because of a lack of musicality, but due to their virtuosic difficulty. THE PAGANINI OF THE DOUBLE BASS Bottesini was widely acclaimed, and his virtuosic skill in the bass paralleled that of Paganini himself on the violin. Because of the contributions of Bottesini (along with those of Sperger and Dragonetti ) to bass technique, many have come to view the double bass as a diverse and versatile instrument. Most notably there are many virtuoso bass players who draw inspiration from the early renaissance of the double bass. Bottesini's bass was said to be a unique instrument with an even more unique sound. It was built by Carlo Antonio Testore in 1716. The instrument was owned by several, unknown bass players. It nearly met its end in the 1830s as it sat backstage in a marionette theater in Milan . Bottesini purchased the Testore in 1838 for 900 lire.Bottesini's Bass, Jeff Brooks, 1997, http://bottesini.com/alife/gbbass.html Bottesini was also one of the first performers to adopt the French-style bow grip for the double bass. This style was previously used solely by violinists and violists. Now, the style is as common as the German-style fist grip. The First French Bow, Jeff Brooks, 1997, http://bottesini.com/alife/gbfrbow.html LIST OF SELECTED WORKS See Also: List of compositions by Giovanni Bottesini Selected works for solo double bass (Partial)
Operas (Complete)
Sacred Works
Instrumental Music not including the solo double bass
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