Felice Giardini was born in Turin in 1716, and studied in Milan, Italy. While in his 30’s, Giardini moved to London to seek fame and fortune. He became fast friends with JC Bach (one of JS Bach’s sons and often called "The London Bach") and Carl Friedrich Abel, all of whom lived and worked in London.  Their London concerts were legendary, and were described in detail by Charles Burney.

After hearing Giardini’s frequent concerts alongside J.C. Bach and Carl Abel, Charles Burney declared, in his History, that the three of them “brought about a total revolution in our musical taste”.  The three composers were strong advocates of the Stile Galante, with an emphasis on simplicity and clean musical lines. According to some accounts Giardini gave his first concert as a soloist in Milan at the age of 12. Soon after that he was playing in opera orchestras, first in Rome and then in Naples.

Towards the end of the 1740s he decided to pursue a career as a soloist in northern Europe. He gave concerts in Paris, Berlin and elsewhere, before making his London debut in 1750, where he immediately attracted a good deal of praise. The Billiardo sonata for viola and continuo, was composed and dedicated to Lord Aylesford, Earl of Finch, probably in 1751. The title may have been a reference to the game of billiards, which was very popular among the nobility.  Perhaps Lord Aylesford liked to listen to a live chamber music group performing, while playing a game of billiards with friends?

Eventually, Giardini’s position and popularity came under threat as the German influence on British music increased. He made several trips back to Italy, as he felt the need to seek success and financial salvation elsewhere; in 1784 he returned to Italy for some five years.  Giardini eventually made his way to St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia, where he died in poverty in 1796.