Giovanni Bononcini

Baroque Italian Composer and Cellist

Giovanni Bononcini (1670–1747) was an Italian Baroque composer, cellist, and singer, renowned for his contributions to the development of the cantata and opera. Born in Modena, he was part of a musical family; his father, Giovanni Maria Bononcini, was a composer and musician as well. Giovanni Bononcini's career flourished in several European cultural centers, including Rome, Vienna, and London. He is perhaps best known for his rivalry with George Frideric Handel while both were associated with the Royal Academy of Music in London. This competition was one of the most notable in the history of Baroque music and culminated in a division of public opinion.