The 18th-Century Paganini

The Italian Baroque composer and violinist Pietro Locatelli, whose astonishing technique astounded his listeners is little known today. Yet in his time Locatelli became famous for his innovative and virtuosic playing which informed his music and challenged the musical world's view of the violin's capabilities. His most significant collection of works, published under the title 'L'arte del violino', contains some of the most fiendishly difficult violin music in the repertoire. Donald Macleod introduces a concerto from that collection plus one of Locatelli's earlier concerti grossi and a charming chamber work, perhaps written with the gentleman amateur in mind.