Pietro Locatelli

Full biography Pietro Locatelli

Pietro Antonio Locatelli was an Italian composer and virtuoso violinist who lived between 1695 and 1764. He was born in Bergamo, Italy, and composed music primarily in the Baroque style. Locatelli was known for his technical facility and innovative compositions, which often featured unconventional harmonies and dissonances.

At a young age, Locatelli began playing the violin under the tutelage of his uncle. By the time he was a teenager, he was already gaining a reputation as a skilled musician and composer. In 1711, he moved to Rome, where he immersed himself in the music scene and began composing in earnest.

One of Locatelli's most famous works is his collection of twelve violin concertos, Op. 3, which were published in Amsterdam in 1723. These concertos, which demonstrate Locatelli's mastery of the violin, were unlike anything that had been written before. They were full of complex, virtuosic passages and included unconventional techniques, such as double stopping and harmonics.

Despite his reputation as a talented composer and performer, Locatelli's music was not always well-received during his lifetime. He struggled to gain fame and recognition, particularly in Italy, and instead found success in Amsterdam, where he moved in 1729.

Today, Locatelli is considered to be one of the most innovative and important composers of the Baroque era. His music, which was ahead of its time in terms of its harmonic complexity and technical difficulty, has been an inspiration to countless musicians and continues to be performed and recorded around the world.