Nardini's concertos feature the customary three-movement structure (Allegro-Adagio-Allegro) inherited from the Venetian tradition, with each movement including a cadenza for the soloist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Around 1744, Nardini changed his style, moving away from virtuoso displays to prioritize a more 'graceful and expressive' musical language.
Composer Biography
Pietro Nardini, the composer of these violin concertos, was sent at age twelve to study with Giuseppe Tartini, becoming one of his most appreciated pupils.
Historical Context
Nardini's style, which favored pleasing expression over astonishing virtuosity, declined with the rise of Niccolò Paganini, who embodied a new aesthetic of 'stunning' performance.
Recording & Production
Three of the four violin concertos on this album are world premiere recordings in modern times, rigorously faithful to the original manuscripts.
Performer Biography
Mauro Rossi, the violinist and conductor on this album, is the first violin of the quartet Le Ricordanze, which specializes in Baroque repertoire played on original instruments.
Critical Reception
Leopold Mozart, father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, praised Nardini's playing in 1763 for its beauty, purity, and refined cantabile, though noting he avoided overly difficult pieces.
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