Haydn, Joseph - Six Sonatas for Violin and Viola - Guglielmo, Federico (violin)
HAYDN: SIX SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND VIOLA
Federico Guglielmo, violin
Massimo Piva, viola
Joseph Haydn was a national treasure in his native Austria. Excelling in all areas of composition, he was the 'Father of the Symphony', the author of such renowned vocal works such as The Creation, and a pioneer of the string quartet. He was also a vital mentor to the young Mozart.
These unique works - the only ones for violin and viola in Haydn's oeuvre - are thought to have been written in the late 1760s or early 1770s, the period during which the composer was employed at the Esterházy court. Little is known about the circumstances of their composition, but most of Haydn's works for violin at this time were intended for the leader of the court chapel, Luigi Tomasini. The pieces certainly tend towards being solo compositions for the violin, which is accorded the bulk of the melodic interest, with an obbligato viola part providing the harmonic support.
Acclaimed violinist Federico Guglielmo studied at the Conservatorio Benedetto Marcello in Venice, later specialising in Baroque and Classical violin repertoire, and has won prizes in numerous international competitions. In this recording he plays alongside Massimo Piva, a past principal violist of Europa Galante and the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto.