Bartolomeo Campagnoli (1751-1827) learned his trade with Paul Guastarobba, a student of the famous Tartini, and with Petro Nardini. As a virtuoso on the violin he traveled Europe, where he held several important posts in Freising (Bavaria), Dresden and Stockholm, before settling as Konzertmeister of the famous Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig. • Campagnoli claimed for himself “the German learnedness with Italian soul”, and his works abound in lyrical melodies set into the firm musical structures of the first Viennese School.
The 41 caprices for viola were published in Leipzig around 1815, shortly after Hoffmeister's 12 studies for viola. It is one of the most important and well-known compositions by Campagnoli and one of the most important collections of violistic teaching. The studies deal with a wide category of technical issues for the left hand and for the bow, covering the problems of the solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire of the time, to the point of being defined as the "Kreutzer-Fiorillo” of the viola.
Karl Albert Tottmann (1837-1917) created a piano accompaniment for the caprices, which we hear on this recording. Capriccio no. 17, a theme with variations in E minor, is the most musical and consistent of the collection and became a favourite concert piece.
Played by Marco Misciagna (viola) and Marco Ciannella (piano). Marco Misciagna is one of the leading viola players of our time. He performed in the most famous concert halls of Europe such as the Berliner Philarmonie, Essen Philarmonie, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Mannheim Rosengarten, Meistersingerhalle Nuremberg, Prinzregententheater Munich, Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao, Musikverein in Wien and in the most prestigious halls of America.
