Trait d'union between the declining Italian instrumental tradition and the rising Austro-German one, Alessandro Rolla is a unique figure in the Italian musical panorama astride the 18th and 19th centuries, not only for the active role he played as conductor at Milan's La Scala and teacher at that city's conservatory but also for his vast and diversified production. Open to stylistic expressions and forms developed outside Italy, a pioneer performer of Mozart and Beethoven, and a genuine exponent of Neoclassical taste, Rolla has left us a conspicuous amount of works in which quite an original creative and stylistic parabola can be observed. The present CD, featuring some world première recordings, contains very interesting compositions, such as the Symphony in D Major - remarkable for the grace and variety of its melodic inventiveness -, the Symphony in B flat Major - leaner and more formal - and some Concertos: the one for basset horn and orchestra is exquisitely classical in the alternation between lyrical and virtuosic passages; while the one for flute and orchestra requires the soloist to master a series of dexterities set to underline his technical and expressive talents. Conductor Massimiliano Caldi Orchestra Milano Classica Chamber Orchestra Soloist Mario Carbotta, flute Denis Zanchetta, basset horn