Luigi Boccherini

This Italian composer and cello virtuoso was born in Lucca in 1743. His father was a double bass player in the local chapel. While studying in Rome, he met Gluck and Sammarini. Nevertheless, in the classical era he was an underrated artist, despite the fact that Haydn himself considered him an excellent musician who contributed greatly to the development of chamber music. Additionally, he popularized his instrument - the cello, which was little known at that time.
In 1768, he moved to Paris, where he received job offers at the court in Madrid. There, Boccherini was very well received by the other musicians, but King Charles III did not like him. However, the king's brother Ludwig took notice of him and gave him the Fint family quartet to work with. During this time, Boccherini wrote many works based on Spanish melodies, especially Quintettino op. 30 no. 6 'La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid' and quintet for guitar and strings op. 50 no. 2 'Fandango'. He then traveled with Ludwig to Arenas de San Pedro, where he remained until his death in 1785. From then on, he served at the Benavente-Osasuna court, composing the zarzuela 'La Clementina' and taking an interest in the guitar, for which he wrote chamber works and his own transcriptions of earlier works. In addition, he composed nearly 500 various works, including symphonies (including the most famous 'House of the Devil'), concertos, string quartets, 184 quintets, among which 113 are written for two cellos, and Stabat Mater. He died in Madrid in 1805.

'Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid' - soundtrack from 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'

Zarzuela 'La Clementina' performed by Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset and María Bayo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkY5TimdTQFandango' with a Spanish accent. Performed by Carmina Quertet