A life of eighty years brought this concert violinist to visits throughout Europe including Rome, Naples, Berlin, France, London (where he remained for over forty years), St Petersburg and Moscow. Giardini studied the harpsichord, violin, and singing. He studied violin with Somis in Turin and gave up the harpsichord after hearing a student of Rameau perform (Mme de St Maur). In London he led quite a successful life performing with The Italian Opera at the King's Theatre, in the Bach-Abel concerts, and was proclaimed the greatest player in all of Europe. Compositions ranged from opera to violin sonatas and included arias as well as oratorios. The most enigmatic of his compositions were probably his early instrumental works, c.1767, quintets for the violin, harpsichord, violin cello and bass. ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide