Pietro Antonio Locatelli - 6 Introduttioni teatrali (Fabio Biondi; Europe Galante)

Information

Composer: Pietro Antonio Locatelli

• Introduttione I in D Major, Op. 4 No. 1
• Introduttione II in F Major, Op. 4 No. 2
• Introduttione III in B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 3
• Introduttione IV in G Major, Op. 4 No. 4
• Introduttione V in D Major, Op. 4 No. 5
• Introduttione VI in C Major, Op. 4 No. 6
• Violin Concerto in A Major, DunL 1.5

Fabio Biondi, violin & direction

Europe Galante

Date: 2025

Label: naïve

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Thirty years after his first Locatelli album, Fabio Biondi returns with Europa Galante to explore the composer’s lesser-known Introduttioni teatrali, six theatrical introductions blending concerto grosso and operatic sinfonia. These short, dramatic works, part of Opus 4, reveal Locatelli’s flair for character and subtle expressiveness, marked by elegant polyphony and mystery. Biondi avoids the more famous Art of the Violin, opting instead to illuminate these rare gems with poetic sensitivity. Few recordings of these works exist, and Biondi’s interpretation highlights their European stylistic richness, culminating in a Concerto in A major linked to Johan Helmich Roman—closing a vibrant musical journey.

Pietro Locatelli (1695–1764) was a pioneering Italian violinist and composer known for his technical brilliance and contributions to violin virtuosity. A prodigy in Bergamo’s Santa Maria Maggiore ensemble by age 14, he later studied in Rome, likely with Corelli. Locatelli toured extensively before settling in Amsterdam around 1729, where he focused on private concerts and publishing. His best-known work, L’Arte del violino, features 12 concertos with 24 demanding caprices that prefigure Paganini. Admired for his use of double stops and special tunings, Locatelli favored the sonata and concerto forms, blending technical feats with expressive melodic writing.

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