This CD presents violin sonatas dedicated by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) to German violinist and composer Johann Georg Pisendel (1678-1755). The manuscripts of the works come from the library of the Dresden Court Orchestra to which Pisendel himself made regular contributions in the course of 30 years.

Pisendel settled in Dresden in 1712, becoming a violinist at the Court Orchestra, and from 1728 until his death, he occupied the post of concert master. The job of court musician in Saxony, however, did not prevent Pisendel from travelling and he spent 9 months in Venice in 1716, where he was rumoured to have studied with Vivaldi. Pisendel’s aim was to familiarise himself with the newer performing and composition styles in Italy. Soon after his return, Dresden became the foreground of Italian music and the new capital of opera in Germany.

The ‘Pisendel Sonatas’ are some of Vivaldi’s most attractive and technically demanding sonatas, leaving the solo sonatas Op.2 and Op.5, printed respectively in 1709 and 1716, far behind. They are effective virtuoso pieces which display the high quality of Pisendel’s technical and interpretive abilities and provide evidence of a personal relationship between renowned musicians.