Dragonetti, Domenico (1763-1846)

Italian-born virtuoso double bass player and composer. He established the instrument's solo credentials in tours of Britain and Europe, performing a repertoire that included a transcription for bass of Beethoven's Cello Sonata in D (1811). His own compositions include eight concertos and numerous string quartets.

He was admitted to the opera orchestras in Venice from the age of 13 and soon began to compose concertos, sonatas, and other works for his instrument. His first appearance abroad was in 1794 in London, England, where he spent most of the rest of his life with the cellist Robert Lindley as partner. He led the double basses in the first performance of Beethoven's Choral Symphony at Vienna in 1824, complaining to the composer about the complexity of his part.