Piantanida, Giovanni

views updated

Piantanida, Giovanni

Piantanida, Giovanni, Italian violinist and composer; b. Florence, 1705; d. Bologna, 1782. He went to Russia, where he entered the service of the Czarina Anna Ivanova in St. Petersburg. His wife, Costanza, known as La Pasterla, was active as a singer. After sojourns in Hamburg (1737–38) and Holland, he went to London in 1739 and appeared in many concerts, including some with Handel. In 1743 he appeared at the Concert Spirituel in Paris. He later settled in Bologna, where he was made a member of the Accademia Filarmonico in 1758. In 1770 he served as one of the judges at Mozart’s examination for membership. He composed violin concertos and publ. 6 violin sonatas (London, 1742). His son, Gaetano Piantanida (b. Bologna, 1768; d. Milan, Nov. 1835), was a pianist and composer. After studying with his father and with Mattei at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna, he toured in Germany and Denmark. In 1810 he settled in Milan and taught at the Istituto Musicale. He publ, a number of piano pieces.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire