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At the time when Viotti appeared in Paris the popular heart was completely captivated by Giornowick, whose eccentric and quarrelsome character as a man cooperated with his artistic excellence to keep him constantly in the public eye. Giornowick was a Palermitan, born in 1745, and his career was thoroughly artistic and full of romantic vicissitudes.
Viotti, the Connecting Link between the Early and Modern Violin Schools. His Immense Superiority over his Contemporaries and Predecessors. Other Violinists of his Time, Giornowick and Boccherini. Viotti's Early Years His Arrival in Paris, and the Sensation he made His Reception by the Court. Viotti's Personal Pride and Dignity. His Rebuke to Princely Impertinence. The Musical Circles of Paris.
When Viotti arrived in Paris in 1779, Giornowick started on his travels after having heard this new rival once. A distinguished virtuoso and composer, with whom Viotti had already been thrown into contact, though in a friendly rather than a competitive way, was Boccherini, who was one of the most successful early composers of trios, quartets, and quintets for string instruments.
In London, where he was frequently heard between 1792 and 1796, he once gave a concert which was fully attended, but annoying to the player on account of the indifference of the audience and the clatter of the tea-cups; for it was then the custom to serve tea during the performance, as well as during the intervals. Giornowick turned to the orchestra and ordered them to cease playing.
Dubourg relates that on one occasion, when Giornowick had announced a concert at Lyons, he found the people rather retentive of their money, so he postponed the concert to the following evening, reducing the price of the tickets to one half. A crowded company was the result. But the bird had flown! The artist had left Lyons without ceremony, together with the receipts from sales of tickets.
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