Albinoni

Tomaso Albinoni (1671–1751) was an Italian Baroque composer and violinist from Venice. He was one of the most prolific Venetian composers of instrumental music in the first half of the 18th century, known for string and wind concertos, chamber sonatas, and sacred vocal works. His concertos, written for one or more soloists with continuo, were widely performed across Europe during his lifetime and afterward.

Albinoni's career was centered in Venice, where he published a large body of works in multiple instrumental and vocal genres. His instrumental music often features clear melodies and balanced textures characteristic of the early Italian concerto style. In addition to solo and chamber concertos, he produced cantatas and other sacred pieces, contributing significantly to the repertoire of the Baroque period.

An enduring association is the Adagio in G minor, a piece commonly linked to Albinoni but ultimately compiled by the 20th-century editor Remo Giazotto from a fragment of Albinoni’s music; its exact authorship remains disputed. Albinoni died in Venice in 1751. His work contributed to the popularity and development of the Baroque concerto form and remains part of the standard repertoire for Baroque violin and oboe performances.