Concerto Grosso, Op. 1, No. 5 - Orchestre Métropolitain

Pietro LOCATELLI

1695-1764

Legend has it that Pietro Locatelli was Corelli’s student. While many musicologists have cast doubt on this claim, they all agree that Locatelli, born in Bergamo in 1695, was a talented violinist and composer. According to contemporary accounts, his remarkable virtuosity earned him fame in Europe’s major capital cities. A renowned teacher, he published L’arte del violino, Op. 3, in 1733, a collection of 12 concertos that revolutionized violin technique and composition. He moved to Amsterdam in 1729, where he founded a violin school and managed the publication of his works. He remained there until his death in 1764.

Published in Amsterdam in 1721, his twelve Concerti grossi, Op. 1, are reminiscent of Corelli’s work. The fifth, in D major, is scored for four soloists (two violins, viola and cello) and follows the traditional four-movement structure. After an elegant and graceful opening Largo, a fugal Allegro bursts forth, distinguished by its syncopated rhythm and intricate interplay between the first and second violins. A second Largo, in B minor, features a dialogue between the two violins, alternating between imitation and contrary motion. A final Allegro, infused with Vivaldian energy, allows the soloists to shine with virtuosic passages, reinforcing Locatelli’s reputation as the “Paganini of the Baroque.”