Giovanni Bottesini, known as 'the Paganini of the double bass', began his musical education at age five on the violin and also sang in church choirs.
Composer Biography
Bottesini chose the double bass at age thirteen for a conservatory scholarship mainly due to his prior knowledge of stringed instruments, not a particular attraction to the instrument itself.
Compositional Technique
Bottesini's operatic fantasies, like 'Lucia di Lammermoor' and 'Beatrice di Tenda', are virtuosic works where complex double bass figurations mimic the coloratura vocal writing of the era.
Performer Biography
Thomas Martin, the double bassist on this recording, has held leading positions with several major orchestras and is also known as a luthier, having made over 140 basses.
Instruments
The double bass Bottesini used for his concert career was made in 1716 by Carlo Antonio Testore and was a 3/4 size Italian instrument tuned one or one and a half tones higher than usual orchestral tuning.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bottesini's fascination for the human voice is evident in his compositions for the double bass, which often feature a singing, melodic style.
Composer Biography
Bottesini's friendship with Giuseppe Verdi, the renowned Italian opera composer, led to him conducting the first performance of Verdi's opera Aida in Cairo.
