Giardini, Felice de

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Giardini, Felice de (b Turin, 1716; d Moscow, 1796). It. violinist and composer. Chorister, Milan Cath. Played in opera orchs. in Rome and Naples. Toured Ger. and Eng. 1750, settling in latter as leader of orch. at It. Opera, which he managed 1756–65. Leader of orch. at 3 Choirs Fest. 1770–6. Left Eng. 1784, returning 1790 to start comic opera co. in London. It failed and he took it to Moscow. Wrote operas, oratorio Ruth, 54 vn. sonatas, 12 vn. concs., 18 str. qts., etc.