Giovanni Punto

Full biography Giovanni Punto

Giovanni Punto, born Jan Václav Stich in 1746 in Bohemia, was a celebrated horn player and composer who lived during the classical music period. He is regarded as a pioneer of the hand-stopping technique, which allowed natural horns to play a wider range of notes. Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn were all impressed by Punto's virtuosic horn playing skills.

Punto's musical career began as a member of the Bohemian National Guard band. He soon gained a reputation as a virtuosic horn soloist and began touring throughout Europe, performing in the major musical centers of the time.

In addition to his solo career, Punto was also a prolific composer, producing a significant body of work for the horn, including concertos, chamber music, and solo pieces. Some of Punto's most famous works include his horn concertos and duets, as well as his quintets for winds and strings.

However, Punto's legacy as a composer has been contested, with some accusing him of plagiarism and borrowing heavily from other composers. Despite this, his contributions to the horn's development, through his performance innovations and compositions, earned him a place in music history.

Today, Punto's music is still played and admired by musicians and music lovers around the world.