Gordigiani, Luigi (1806-1860)

Italian composer. He was a pupil of his father, Antonio Gordigiani, who died when he was 14, and he had to make a living by writing piano pieces under German names. The Russian prince Nikolai Demidov and the Polish prince Józef Poniatowski discovered his great gifts and gave him their patronage, the latter providing him with the libretto for his opera Filippo, produced in Florence, Italy, in 1840.

Works ten operas; Canzonette, Canti popolari and other songs (about 300 in all); duets for female voices; Tuscan airs with piano accompaniment.