The solo concerto genre in the 18th century standardized a formal ritornello structure, featuring close dialogue and contrast between a virtuoso soloist and the orchestra.
Composition History
Giovanni Benedetto Platti, a Venetian composer and multi-instrumentalist, composed most of his 22 cello concertos for Count Rudolph Franz Erwein von Schönborn, a passionate amateur cellist.
Composition History
Haydn's C major cello concerto, considered lost until its rediscovery in Prague in 1961, was likely written for Joseph Franz Weigl, a cellist in the Esterhazy family orchestra.
Historical Context
The 18th century saw rapid developments in cello technique and repertoire, with the instrument gradually moving from an accompanying role to an independent solo role.
Composition History
Many 18th-century cello concertos were dedicated to aristocratic amateurs or professional virtuosi, or written by performers for their own use.
Composer Biography
Carlo Graziani, an Italian cellist and composer, served as cello teacher and chamber musician to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, who was a skilled amateur cellist and patron of musicians.
Composer Biography
Antonio Vivaldi, a key innovator in the concerto genre, was also one of the earliest composers of cello concertos, writing most of his 27 works for talented female students at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice.
