Boccherini

Boccherini, Luigi, born at Lucca in 1740, and carefully trained as a musician by his father, who followed that profession, associated himself as a composer with Manfredi, the violinist. They went to Paris together (1770) and there Boccherini's Divertissements were first printed with great success. The two friends next visited Spain, and were cordially welcomed, but though he held appointments at the Court, Boccherini appears to have lived in poverty and obscurity, dying in 1805. His works were very numerous, and show much fluency and ease combined with a sound knowledge of instruments, especially of the violoncello. He has been styled "the wife of Haydn."