Giovanni Battista Viotti's Violin Concerto No. 13 features the violinist entering unaccompanied with an assertive version of the opening bass line, using the E string before transferring to the G string, a timbre he helped popularize.
Cultural Impact
Viotti's grand style of violin playing influenced a whole generation of violinists, including Rode, Baillot, and Kreutzer, and even Beethoven's violin concerto shows awareness of his style.
Composer Biography
Federigo Fiorillo (1755-after 1823), a composer on this album, was born in Germany and initially preferred the mandolin before becoming a violin virtuoso.
Historical Context
The 18th century was the first great age of the travelling virtuoso, with Italian violinists like Geminiani, Veracini, and Locatelli leading the way.
Instruments
The 1780s saw the perfecting of the modern bow by François Tourte, a development with which Giovanni Battista Viotti, a composer on this album, is traditionally linked.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Henry Wood Hall, London, on March 26 and 27, 1986.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824), a composer on this album, was hailed as the finest violinist in Europe after his sensational Paris debut in 1782.
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