A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Celestino, Eligio

CELESTINO, Eligio, a violin-player, born at Rome, 1739. Burney heard him in that city in 1770, and considered him the best Roman violinist of the period. In 1776 he began to travel, and settled in 1781 at Ludwigslust in Mecklenburg, as leader of the Ducal band, which post he retained till his death in 1812. When sixty years of age, Celestino came to England, and met with considerable success. In Preston's Catalogue (London, 1797), we find of his composition Six Sonatas for a Violin and Bass (op. 9), and three Duos à Violino e Violoncello (London, Clementi, 1798).

[ P. D. ]