Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824) received his musical education fromGaetano Pugnani. He served for a short time at the Savoy Court in Turinbut soon he spread his wings and travelled to Paris, where he was aninstant success as a supreme violin virtuoso. He served for a time at thecourt of Versailles before he founded an opera house in Paris. The Frenchrevolution urged him to go abroad and he settled in London, where hefeatured in the Hanover Square concert series and was active as a concertorganizer and impresario, as well as one of the founders of thePhilharmonic Society of London.• Viotti was an influential violin player and teacher. He composed 29 violinconcertos. His string quartets, which are here recorded complete, featurethe first violin prominently. The music is in Early-Classical style. Based onthe principles of the Viennese Classics it hints at more romantic feelingsof times to come.• Played by the Italian Viotti Quartet, paying an impressive tribute to theirname giver Giovanni Battista Viotti.
