A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cianchettini, Veronica

CIANCHETTINI, Veronica, sister of J. L. Dussek, born at Czaslau in Bohemia 1779, pianist and composer, studied the pianoforte under her father from infancy. In 1797 she joined her brother in London, where she married Francesco Cianchettini. She was a successful teacher, and composed two concertos and several sonatas for the pianoforte.

Her son, Pio, born in London 1799, was a composer and pianist. At five years old he appeared at the Opera House as an infant prodigy. A year later he travelled with his father through Holland, Germany, and France, where he was hailed as the English Mozart. By the age of eight he had mastered the English, French, German, and Italian languages. In 1809 he performed a concerto of his own composition in London. Catalani appointed him her composer and director of her concerts, and frequently sang Italian airs which he wrote to suit her voice. He published a cantata for two voices and chorus, to words from 'Paradise Lost' said to be a fine work; music to Pope's 'Ode on Solitude'; 'Sixty Italian Notturnos' for two, three, and four voices, and other vocal pieces. He was also editor and publisher of an edition in score of symphonies and overtures of Mozart and Beethoven, and died in 1849.

[ M. C. C. ]