Alessandro Rolla (1757-1841) enjoyed a considerable reputation as a violinist, violist, conductor and composer during his lifetime. He was the music director of La Scala Orchestra during the first three decades of the 19th century. Rolla was an extraordinary virtuoso on the viola, the “Paganini of the viola”, were it not that he was actually the teacher of Paganini. Many of the technical innovations that Paganini introduced in his devilish violin works were invented by Rolla. This 7-CD-set presents a selection of his chamber music: duets for violin and viola as well as violin and piano, Trios and Quartets for strings and as a bonus a violin concerto. Rolla’s style is firmly rooted in Viennese Classicism, the melodies glowing with Italian warmth and elegance.