Viotti's concertos, written over thirty years, show an evolution towards more intense lyricism and pre-Romantic traits, especially in their slow movements.
Composition History
Viotti's last nine concertos, composed in England between 1792 and 1815, were differentiated by the composer with a new cataloguing system (e.g., 'A' for No. 21, 'B' for No. 22).
Critical Reception
Before recent CD editions, only two of Viotti's twenty-nine violin concertos were widely known: Concerto No. 22 and Concerto No. 16, which even attracted Mozart's attention.
Historical Context
Italian composers, including Giovanni Battista Viotti, made crucial contributions to the violin concerto from the 18th century to the mid-19th century.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824) was a Piedmontese musician who composed twenty-nine concertos for violin and orchestra.
Instruments
Franco Mezzena performs on a magnificent Antonio Stradivari violin from 1721, as well as violins by luthier Giovanni Osvaldo Fiori.
Performer Biography
Franco Mezzena, the soloist on this recording, studied with Salvatore Accardo and has toured with ensembles like I Musici and I Virtuosi di Roma.
