Despite a dazzling career as a soloist, Viotti's popularity declined, and he died almost completely forgotten, though he was once considered a master of European instrumental music.
Compositional Technique
Viotti wrote 29 violin concertos between 1782 and 1808, with a notable predilection for minor tonalities in works composed from 1788 onwards.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Viotti, born in Italy in 1755, became a favorite of aristocratic circles and the French court after settling in Paris in 1782.
Historical Context
Due to his close ties with the aristocracy, Viotti fled to London during the French Revolution and was later forced to leave England for Germany under suspicion of Jacobin activity.
Performer Biography
Franco Mezzena, the violinist and conductor on this album, studied with Salvatore Accardo and has performed internationally with groups like I Musici and I Virtuosi di Roma.
Cultural Impact
Viotti's violin concertos laid the foundations of the French violin school and were admired and imitated by composers like Pierre Rode, Rodolphe Kreutzer, and Pierre-Marie Baillot.
Composer Biography
Viotti's career included serving Queen Marie Antoinette and later becoming an opera impresario, opening the Théâtre de Monsieur in Paris.
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Viotti: Violin Concertos (Complete), Vol. 3
Vivaldi, Nardini & Viotti: Italian Violin Concertos
