Italian composer Alessandro Rolla lived from 1757 till 1841, outliving both Mozart and Beethoven, his most important musical influences. He was an extraordinary virtuoso on the viola, the “Paganini of the viola”, were it not that he was actually the teacher of Paganini. Many of the technical innovations that Paganini introduced in his devilish violin works were invented by Rolla. This new recording presents several concertante works for viola and orchestra, the style firmly rooted in Viennese Classicism, the melodies glowing with Italian warmth and elegance. Played by Simonide Braconi, principal violist of the famous Scala Orchestra, the orchestra Rolla himself conducted in his time.