A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cimador, Giambattista

CIMADOR, Giambattista, of a noble family in Venice 1761, died in London about 1808; composer, and player on the violin, cello, and pianoforte. In 1788 he produced in Venice 'Pigmalione,' an interlude, with which, notwithstanding its success, he was so dissatisfied as to burn the score and renounce composition for the future. Cherubini used the words of several scenes from this interlude for his opera of 'Pimmalione.' About 1791 Cimador settled in London as a teacher of singing. Hearing that the orchestra of the King's Theatre, in the Haymarket, had refused to play Mozart's symphonies on account of their difficulty, he arranged six of them as sestets for strings and flute. The work was well done, and the symphonies first made known in this form speedily took their proper place with the public. He composed duos for two violins and violin and alto, and a few vocal pieces.

[ M. C. C. ]