Alessandro Rolla (Pavia 1757 - Milan 1841) enjoyed a considerable reputation as a violinist, violist, conductor and composer during his lifetime, and is now best remembered as a teacher of Paganini (with whom he performed in concert). Is stylistically tied to classical composition while simultaneously open to burgeoning Romanticism. He occupies a middle ground between Haydn and Boccherini.
Rolla is an example of a neglected musician who was widely acknowledged in his time as a violinist and, especially, viola virtuoso, composer and teacher and whose contribution to technique, repertoire and history of music is greatly underestimated. Still unknown to the majority of musicians and concert-goers, if remembered, it’s always due to his fame as “teacher of the great Paganini”, yet his role was very important in the development of violin and viola technique.
