Niccolo Paganini: Sonata per la Grand Viola, M.S. 70, Luigi Alberto Bianchi (1595 Amati viola)

Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (27 October 1782 – 27 May 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. Sonata per la Grand Viola (Sonata for large viola) in C minor, , M.S. 70 - Luigi Alberto Bianchi (Amati viola), Berlin RIAS Symphony Orchestra, Jacques Delacôte (conductor): • Introduzione: Larghetto - Recitativo a piacere • Cantabile: Andante sostenuto • Tema con Variazioni (tema, tre variazioni e coda) “Violist Luigi Alberto Bianchi specializes in performances on historical instruments–that is, instruments that have historical value, not period instruments. In this recording he plays the Gran Viola by Amati (1595), stolen in Milan a few weeks after the second recording session released on this CD, and never found since. Because of the unusual size and length of the fingerboard, this unique instrument was especially difficult to play, but also extremely rewarding in terms of tonal beauty and depth of sonority.”