Mestrino, Nicola

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Mestrino, Nicola

Mestrino, Nicola, Italian violinist and composer; b. Milan, 1748; d. Paris, July 1789. He was a member of Prince Esterhazy’s orch. under Haydn (1780–85), and then was a chamber musician to Count Erdödy in Pressburg (1785–86). He subsequently settled in Paris, where he played at the Concert Spirituel in 1786. In 1789 he became concertmaster of the orch. at the Théâtre de Monsieur. He composed 12 violin concertos and other works for his instrument, but is best remembered for his didactic Caprices ou études.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire