Giovanni Paggi

Giovanni Paggi
(b Iesi, 16 Nov 1806; d Florence, 3 Nov 1887). Italian oboist, composer and tenor. He toured extensively in Italy (1828–32) playing the oboe and the english horn, before going to the USA in 1833.

In 1844 he returned to Italy, and undertook a long European tour (1853–5) encompassing Belgium, the Netherlands, Paris and London. From 1855 there are no records of his oboe playing; he later built a career as a tenor and a singing teacher, performing in Paris (1867–8) and England (1868–78). His last years were spent in Florence. He counted numerous composers among his friends (including Rossini, Spontini, Paer, Vaccai and Bellini), and many of his works for oboe are variations on operatic themes. His oboe music demands a high degree of virtuosity, and is typical of the brilliant Italian oboe repertory that reached its apogee in the music of Pasculli. His compositions include four pieces for oboe and piano (published in Paris), unpublished works for oboe and orchestra, and about 12 songs for one or more voices with piano (published in England). Manuscripts and other documents are held in the Biblioteca Comunale in Iesi.