Bononcini, Giovanni

Bononcini, Giovanni

(born July 18, 1670, Modena, Duchy of Modena—died July 9, 1747, Vienna) Italian composer. His father was Giovanni Maria Bononcini (1642–78), maestro di cappella of Modena Cathedral and the composer of numerous church and chamber sonatas. Giovanni himself served as maestro di cappella at San Giovanni in Monte; he later held desirable positions in various European capitals. In London in the 1720s he had a celebrated operatic rivalry with George Frideric Handel. He wrote more than 30 operas, some 20 oratorios, and nearly 300 cantatas (most for solo voice and continuo), but they are rarely heard today. His brother Antonio Maria Bononcini (1677–1726) was also a composer.