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Italian composer and cellist of the Classical era, renowned for his significant contributions to chamber music, particularly the string quintet, and his long service in the Spanish court. Born in Lucca, Italy, Boccherini trained under his cellist father. He gained early fame touring Europe. In 1768, he settled permanently in Spain, serving the Infante Don Luis and later King Charles III. Prolific throughout his life, he composed over 500 works, primarily chamber music and symphonies. Despite periods of poverty and personal tragedy, his elegant style, characterized by melodic charm and refined counterpoint, earned him the nickname 'Haydn's Wife' for his perceived similarity to the Austrian master, though his music possesses distinct Italianate warmth and Spanish influences.

• His String Quintet in E major, Op. 11, No. 5 (G 275), is famous for its third movement, the 'Menuetto', which became widely popular and is often performed separately.
• Boccherini endured immense personal tragedy: he lost his first wife, his singer daughter, and his second wife within a short period (1785-1786).
• A persistent legend claims he died from a heart attack caused by the shock of hearing church bells tolling for his own mistakenly reported death. While the exact cause is unknown, records show he died from a long respiratory illness (likely tuberculosis).