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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Composer of the Week: Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Episode 3: Boccherini Finds a Princely Patron in Spain

Boccherini Finds a Princely Patron in Spain

Episode 3

Episode 3: Boccherini Finds a Princely Patron in Spain

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805), Boccherini Finds a Princely Patron in Spain

Donald Macleod focuses on Boccherini's move to Spain.

Donald Macleod focuses on Boccherini's move to Spain, where he began to work for the King's brother, writing music such as The Aviary and his first setting of the Stabat Mater.

He could number among his patrons the King of Spain, and the heir to the Prussian throne, and he composed around one hundred string quartets, and at least as many quintets, amongst other works - this week Donald Macleod looks at the life and music of Luigi Boccherini.

Whilst in Paris, Boccherini was approached by the Spanish Ambassador, who proposed that Boccherini and his friend the violinist Manfredi, might like to visit Madrid, and that the two young men would receive a rapturous welcome from the heir to the Spanish throne. Both Boccherini and Manfredi travelled to Spain, but their welcome was not what they had hoped it would be. In a bid to ingratiate himself with the Spanish Prince, Boccherini dedicated his Opus 6 trios to him, including the fifth Trio in G minor. This didn't get the Prince's attention.

Another Royal patron did however materialise, and this was the King's brother, Don Luis, whom Boccherini would go on to work for, for many years. Boccherini would compose many works dedicated to his royal patron, including sextets, quintets, and a set of symphonies, which included the third Symphony in C major opus 12. These works steadily began to establish Boccherini's reputation in Spain and further afield, in particular his set of quintets opus 11. The sixth of this set, nicknamed The Aviary, depicts Boccherini's patron's passion for exotic birds.

Don Luis would soon fall out of favour with his family and the royal court, over his marriage to a lady of non-royal blood. This soon meant that Don Luis's court would have to move far from Madrid. This isolation would influence the works Boccherini went on to compose, given the limited number of musicians to hand. However, with a visit to Arenas of a famous singer, Boccherini was able compose his first setting of the Stabat Mater.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Luigi Boccherini

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Luigi Boccherini, a composer who spent the majority of his life working in Spain

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Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Episode 3: Boccherini Finds a Princely Patron in Spain

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