Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824) was an Italian violinist and composer, one of the founders of the modern French violin school. Born in Piedmont, he made a major career in Paris and London.

His works include violin concertos, chamber music and other instrumental pieces. His concertos influenced later violin writing and were admired by performers and composers including Beethoven.

Viotti’s music is elegant, lyrical and formally clear, combining Classical balance with a strong sense of violinistic line. It stands at the threshold of the nineteenth-century concerto tradition.

As performer, composer and teacher, Viotti helped reshape violin playing in Europe. His music has the polished authority of a bow drawn with complete confidence.