Luigi Boccherini, Minuetto

The enlightened despot Carlos III of Bourbon was king of Spain from 1759 until his death, in 1788. During his term, he reformulated the laws, created the National Lottery, made important changes in the layout of the big cities, and expelled the Jesuits.
Unfortunately, and in spite of how enlightened he was – his reign reveals an important resurgence of culture – the king was deaf. Because of this, the celebration of musical shows in court was scarce, being permitted by the monarch only in case of ceremonies of great solemnity, which he would attend, stoic, juggling so as not to fall asleep.

Boccherini, the cellist
Thus, it is surprising that the ambassador of Spain in Paris has convinced Italian cellist Luigi Boccherini to move to Madrid, where he was expected by, according to the intrepid ambassador, major successes and possibilities. Luigi, 24, originally from the Italian city of Lucca, after passing through Rome and Milan was by then installed in the French capital, enjoying some fame, mainly as an interpreter, along with his partner, the violinist Filippo Manfredi.

Shortly after arriving both in Madrid, in 1767, Filippo secured a position in the private orchestra of Infante Luis de Borbon, brother of the deaf and who, unlike him, used to cultivate some interest in music. Luigi didn't share the same luck and had to settle for occasional concerts that reported very little money. Fortunately, Filippo moved his influences and in November 1770 Luigi was accepted as a chamber cellist and composer of the infant's house. The salary was good and allowed Luigi to continue his activity as a chamber music composer, free from material concerns, even when the compositions became the property of Infante Luis as soon as they came from Boccherini's creative imagination.

Luigi Boccherini (1743 - 1805)

Boccherini, to "exile"
But, since everything doesn't last forever, six years later, in 1776, the Infante Luis, almost 50 years old, found love where he should not. He fell in love with a commoner and got married after the king authorized the morganatic marriage. Fuck! And what is that? the Infante asked. My consent for you to get married to a non-royal person, replied the king.

This is how the Infante was separated from the court and sent, with his wife, to reside in Arenas de San Pedro, a small town one hundred and sixty kilometers from Madrid. Nevertheless, he did not abandon his musicians. Luigi and his friend Filippo left with him, then actively engaging in the musical evenings of the Infante and his wife, in exile. Luigi was able to continue composing, but in complete isolation from Madrid's musical circles, although the infant allowed him to send some compositions to be published in the rest of Europe. Upon the death of his protector, Boccherini was helpless again but Carlos III, the deaf one, came to his aid by granting him a pension as a sign of the affection he had had for his wayward brother.

Quintet for strings in E major - Minueto
Luigi Boccherini wrote neither more nor less than 124 quintets for string, in which –as was obvious being him a cellist–, he folded the cello instead of the viola, that is, they are pieces for two violins, viola and two cellos. The Quintet for strings in E major, opus 11, published in Paris in 1775, is one of the most applauded because it includes the minuet that still holds Boccherini on stage, the popularly known "Boccherini minuet".

Mariss Jansons conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.