Overview of Tommaso Giordani
Tommaso Giordani (c.1730–1733 - 1806) was a prolific Italian composer renowned for his active roles in England and Ireland, particularly in Dublin, where he was a significant musical figure from the mid-18th century onwards. Born into a musical family in Naples, Giordani was trained in Italy before moving with his family to London around 1752 and later settling in Dublin in 1764. Throughout his career, he composed across genres, leaving an enduring legacy in opera, oratorio, chamber, and instrumental music.
Operatic and Theatrical Works by Tommaso Giordani
Giordani composed numerous operas and stage pieces, becoming known for his tuneful, galant style. His earliest known opera, La comediante fatta cantatrice, debuted at Covent Garden on 12 January 1756. Notable works include Genius of Ireland (1784), The Island of Saints, or The Institution of the Shamrock (1785), and his final opera The Cottage Festival, which premiered at the Theatre Royal, Dublin in 1796.
Oratorio
His oratorio Isaac (1767) remains a significant example of his contribution to large-scale vocal music.
Orchestral and Chamber Music
Giordani wrote a sizeable body of orchestral music, including A Select Overture in Eight Parts (c.1767) and A Favourite Overture in Eight Parts (c.1780). His chamber music features string quartets, trios for violin, flute and basso continuo, and numerous sonatas. Examples include Six Sonatas, Op. 35, for violin and piano (1794), Countess of Antrim's Minuet and Lady Letitia MacDonell's Minuett for keyboard (after 1790).
Songs
Giordani composed many songs for pleasure gardens and salons. He has been widely credited with the beloved arietta Caro mio ben (1783), though its exact authorship is still debated and sometimes attributed to his father or Giuseppe Giordani.
Pupil Influence
His teaching shaped several prominent musicians, including John Field, the originator of the nocturne, who made his debut under Giordani's direction.