BORGHI, Luigi (c.1745-c.1806) - Sonata pour Violon et Basse (1772)

Luigi Borghi (c.1745-c.1806) - Sonata pour Violon et Basse from

'Six | SOLOS | for a | Violin and Bass | Humbly Dedicated to | SIR ROWLAND WYNNE Bar' (1772)

Performers: Daniel Pintеño (violin); Concеrto 1700

Drawing: Paul Sandby (1731-1809) - The North Terrace of Windsor Castle

Further info: Violin Sonatas in Late 18th-Century

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Luigi Borghi [Porchi, Porghi]

(Bologna, c.1745 - London, c.1806)

Italian composer and violinist. A student of Gaetano Pugnani, he moved to London in 1769 at the behest of William Hamilton. A prominent orchestral violinist, he was leader of the second violins at the Handel Commemoration of 1784 and at the Professional Concert from 1785 until 1792. He composed ballet music for the Italian opera, was assistant manager of O’Reilly’s opera company at the Pantheon in 1791 and, shortly afterwards, married the prima donna Anna Casentini (fl. 1787-1796). The bulk of his music was published during his lifetime and includes six violin concertos, six symphonies-overtures, two ballets, 12 violin sonatas (titled “solos”), nine duos for two violins, 12 duets, 64 cadenzas, and a sonata for viola d’amore. His music is representative of the 'Empfindsamkeit style', with good contrast and lyrical motivic lines. He was not related to Giovanni Battista Borghi (1738-1796).