Biography
Born in Naples, the operatic composer devoted the greater portion of his working life to the British Isles. While accompanying his father’s opera troupe on its London engagements, he brought forward his initial opera in 1756. He remained in the city from 1768 to 1783, during which time he wrote three operas and prepared arrangements of numerous other scores. Seven additional operas were staged by him in Dublin, where he also served as musical director of the English Opera House. Giordani further produced odes, sacred music, cantatas, canzonets, and chamber pieces, many of them featuring keyboard. His keyboard music and adaptations enjoyed a popularity rivaling that of J. C. Bach, especially among amateurs. Regrettably, many of his musical phrases incorporate superfluous material. The popular song “Caro mio ben,” frequently ascribed to Tomasso, was in fact composed by Giuseppe Giordani.