A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Puppo, Giuseppe

PUPPO, Giuseppe, eminent violinist, was born at Lucca in 1749 [App. p.765 "June 12". He was a pupil of the Conservatorio at Naples, and when still very young gained considerable reputation in Italy as a virtuoso. He came to Paris in 1775; thence he went to Spain and Portugal, where he is reported to have amassed a fortune. After having stayed for some years in England he returned to Paris in 1784, and remained there till 1811, occupying the post of leader, first at the Théâtre de Monsieur, which was then under Viotti's direction, then at the Théâtre Feydeau, and finally conducting the band at the Théâtre Français. As he was an excellent accompanyist, he was much in request in the musical circles of the rich and noble, and might have secured for himself a competency if it had not been for his eccentricity and unsteadiness, which brought him into constant troubles. In 1811 he suddenly left Paris, abandoning his wife and children for ever. Arrived at Naples he was lucky enough to secure the leadership of the band at a theatre. He however did not stay long, but went to Lucca, thence to Florence, and finally found employment as teacher at a music school at Pontremoli. After two years he threw up this appointment and returned to Florence, was there found, utterly destitute, by Mr. Edward Taylor, Gresham Professor of Music, and by his generosity was placed in a hospice, where he died in 1827 [App. p.765 "April 19"]. Fétis gives interesting details of his adventurous life, and several of his bon mots. It was he who so happily described Boccherini as 'the wife of Haydn.' His published compositions are few and of no importance.

[ P. D. ]