A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Polledro, Giovanni

POLLEDRO, Giovanni Battista, an eminent violinist, was born at Piová near Turin June 10, 1781 (or according to another source 1776). He received his first instruction from local musicians, at 15 studied for a short time under Pugnani, and soon entered the royal band at Turin. In 1804 he became first violin in the Theatre at Bergamo, and after a short stay there began to travel. In Russia he remained for five years, and in 1814 accepted the appointment of leader of the band at Dresden, where he remained till 1824. In that year [App. p.750 "the previous year"] he accepted a brilliant engagement as Director general of the royal orchestra at Turin. He died at his native village Aug. 15, 1853.

Polledro was an excellent violinist and sound musician. He had the great tone and dignified style of the classical Italian school. All contemporaneous critics praise his faultless and brilliant execution not less than the deep feeling with which he played. In 1812 he met Beethoven at Carlsbad, and played with him one of Beethoven's violin-sonatas (see Thayer's Life of Beethoven, iii. 208). His published compositions consist of three concertos, some airs variés, trios and duos for stringed instruments, and a set of exercises for the violin; a Miserere and a Mass for voices and orchestra, and a Sinfonia pastorale for full orchestra.

[ P. D. ]