Viotti Giovanni Battista Program Notes and Sheet Music

Giovanni Battista Viotti (12 May 1755 – 3 March 1824) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was one of the most important violinists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and he is considered one of the founders of the modern violin concerto.

Viotti was born in Fontanetto Po, Piedmont, Italy. He began studying the violin at the age of five, and he gave his first public performance at the age of eight. He studied with some of the leading violinists of the time, including Gaetano Pugnani and Pietro Nardini.

In 1771, Viotti moved to Paris, where he quickly became one of the most popular violinists in the city. He was known for his technical virtuosity and his expressive playing. He also composed over 29 violin concertos, which were widely performed and admired by other violinists.

Viotti's concertos were innovative in several ways. They were longer and more demanding than previous concertos, and they featured a more prominent role for the orchestra. Viotti's concertos also introduced new techniques and styles, such as the use of pizzicato and the use of chromaticism.

Viotti's concertos had a profound influence on the development of the violin concerto. They were studied by many of the leading violinists of the 19th century, including Niccolò Paganini and Franz Liszt. Viotti's concertos are still performed today, and they continue to be enjoyed by violinists and audiences around the world.

Viotti also composed other works for the violin, including sonatas, variations, and chamber music. He also wrote operas and ballets.

Viotti died in London in 1824. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Viotti was a major figure in the development of violin playing and violin music. He was a master of technique, and he wrote music that challenged and inspired violinists. He was also a teacher, and he had a number of notable students, including Pierre Rode and Rodolphe Kreutzer.

Viotti's music is still performed today, and it continues to be enjoyed by violinists and audiences around the world. His music is characterized by its technical virtuosity, its expressive melodies, and its use of national and folk music elements. Viotti is considered one of the most important composers of violin music in the 18th and 19th centuries, and his music has had a lasting influence on the development of the violin.