Luigi Boccherini Essentials

As is almost always the case with “one-hit wonders”, there is so much more to the music of Luigi Boccherini than his admittedly delightful “Minuet” (from the String Quintet No. 6 in E Major), made famous in modern times by the classic 1955 British comedy movie The Ladykillers. The Italian composer thrived during the heyday of the Classical era, in the mid to late 18th century, and his music has a vivacious and original personality. Boccherini’s 100 or so quintets often include portraits of Spanish life and culture, stemming from his time in Madrid serving at the court of the king’s younger brother, the Infante Don Luis. The String Quintet No. 6, G. 324, subtitled “Night Music in the Streets of Madrid”, includes impressions of church bells, dancing and guitars, while the “Fandango” Quintet No. 4 is scored for strings, guitar and castanets, and is testament to Boccherini’s skill at crossing musical boundaries.