Giovanni Battista Bononcini Biography - A Very Quick Guide

Italian composer and cellist Giovanni Battista Bononcini (1670–1747) was born in Modena into a musical family and received early training from his father, Giovanni Maria Bononcini. After studies in Bologna, he worked in several major musical centres including Rome, Vienna and Berlin. By the 1720s he had become a prominent figure in London, where his works were performed alongside those of Handel. In fact, the two became rivals in the world of opera.

Bononcini's operas, such as Camilla and Griselda, were admired for their clear melodic writing and elegant style. Although he enjoyed considerable success, his reputation later suffered following a plagiarism scandal in 1731, prompting his departure from London. Bononcini spent his remaining years in Portugal and Vienna.