Giovanni Bottesini enjoyed a globe-trotting career as “the Paganini of the double bass” but was also an accomplished and respected conductor in Europe.

When conducting operas Bottesini would often perform fantasies on the evening’s entertainment during the intermission. Two such fantasies, ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ and ‘Beatrice di Tenda’, are virtuosic tours de force in which the complex double bass figurations mimic the coloratura vocal writing of the day.

In keeping with this vocal style, this recording also includes the song Une bouche aimée with double bass obbligato, most likely performed on one of Bottesini’s frequent concert tours with various leading sopranos of the day.