Viotti's 29 violin concertos, written between 1782 and 1808, are considered the peak of his compositional output and show a notable preference for minor keys, especially in later works.
Performer Biography
Franco Mezzena, the violinist and conductor on this album, studied with Salvatore Accardo and has toured extensively with ensembles like I Musici and I Virtuosi di Roma.
Composer Biography
Viotti served Queen Marie Antoinette and later became a theatrical impresario, opening the Théâtre de Monsieur with Léonard Autié.
Critical Reception
Despite his success as a soloist, Viotti's popularity declined, and he died practically forgotten, though he was long considered a master of European instrumental music.
Composer Biography
Due to his ties with the aristocracy during the French Revolution, Viotti moved to England, but was later wrongly suspected of Jacobin activity and forced to leave for Germany.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Viotti, an Italian violinist and composer, gained recognition for his instrumental music primarily outside his home country, where opera dominated the music scene.
Cultural Impact
Viotti's violin concertos laid the foundation for the French violin school and influenced composers like Pierre Rode, Rodolphe Kreutzer, and Pierre Baillot.
