Alessandro Rolla

Musical legacy As an example of his fame in Italy and abroad, it is worth noting that during his lifetime his compositions were published by publishers such as Le Duc and Imbault in Paris, Artaria in Vienna, Breitkopf & Hartel in Leipzig, Monzani & Hill in London, André in Offenbach, Ricordi in Milan from 1809, and many more. This information about Rolla's life and multifarious musical activity helps us interpret his work. He was a musician of European vision, an innovator in his own field who was also able to learn from the best of his contemporaries. Also being so deeply immersed in opera environment undoubtedly had an influence on his style as a composer. He often used themes from operas for his variations.

Many of his works have been published in modern times and are therefore available. His works and performances as a violin and viola player, as well as conductor at La Scala, were often reviewed and appreciated in the Leipziger Zeitung. Rolla deserves a more important position in viola repertoire. His pedagogical works, conceived especially for the viola, are of special interest for students and teachers. They are often conceived in form of duos, lending themselves to be used also for chamber music education purposes as well.

Compositional style Because of the technical innovations introduced, his work may be considered helpful for the development of viola technique. His style varies from the very melodic phrases, typically operatic in character, rich in fiorituras, to the extremely virtuoso writing, the style usually identified with Paganini. Ingredients of this technique are an ample use of double stops, fast passages in thirds and sixths, octaves from the first to the eighth position, very fast ascending and descending diatonic and chromatic scales, flying staccato, left-hand pizzicato. This intense virtuosity was a new innovation for viola technique, practically unheard of in previous times. Bertini, a historian of his time, in a dictionary of musicians reported that Rolla was prohibited from playing in public because women could not hear him without fainting or suffering attacks of nerves.

Selected discography Rolla: Viola Sonatas, Duetto For Viola And Violin, Esercizi. Label: Naxos – 8.572010. Format: CD, Country: Italy. Released: 2011. Alessandro Rolla: Concertos for Viola & Viola D'Amore. Performers: I Musici. Label: Philips – 412 636-1. Format: LP, Country: Italy. Released: 1984. Alessandro Rolla: Untitled. Performers: Isabelle Faust, Thomas Riebl. Label: ECM New Series – ECM 1840. Format: CD, Country: Germany. Released: 2004. Alessandro Rolla: 3 Gran Duetti Concertanti Op.15 For Violin And Viola. Performers: Salvatore Accardo, Luigi Alberto Bianchi. Label: Dynamic. Format: CD, Country: Italy. Released: 1976. Alessandro Rolla: Divertimento à Violino con Grande Orchestra. Performers: Bettina Mussumelli, I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone. Label: Dynamic – CDS 516. Format: CD, Country: Italy. Released: 2003. Alessandro Rolla: Complete Works for Solo Viola, BI. 310–322. Intonazione No. 1 in C Major, BI 310; Esercizio (Capriccio) No. 2 in E-flat Major, BI 311; Intonazione No. 2 in F Major, BI 312; Esercizio (Capriccio) No. 1 in F Major, BI 313; Esercizio e Arpeggio (Capriccio) No. 3 in G Major, BI 314; Giro Armonico, BI 315; Andante patetico (Vaccaj: Giulietta e Romeo, Act III), BI 316; Andante (Rossini: Demetrio e Polibio, Quartet), BI 317; Romanza e Preghiera (Rossini: Otello), BI 318; Cavatina: Nel furor delle tempeste (Bellini: Il Pirata), BI 319; Meco tu vieni (Bellini: La Straniera), BI 320; Tu vedrai la sventurata (Bellini: Il Pirata), BI 321; Duetto: Pietosa al padre (Bellini: Il Pirata), BI 322. Performer: Marco Misciagna (viola). Label: MM. Format: CD, Country: Italy. Released: 2025.