Alessandro Rolla

Alessandro Rolla was an Italian violinist, violist, conductor, and composer born in Pavia in 1757. He began performing publicly at the age of fifteen, quickly building a reputation as a gifted instrumentalist. His early musical development prepared him for a distinguished career in Italy’s major musical centers during a period of significant artistic change.

In 1782 Rolla became conductor and concertmaster of the ducal orchestra in Parma, a position he held for twenty years. His success there led to his long tenure as principal conductor of the La Scala theatre orchestra in Milan from 1802 to 1833. At La Scala he directed the first Milan performances of several operas by Mozart and Rossini, as well as early Milanese presentations of Beethoven’s symphonies, contributing to the dissemination of major European repertoire in Italy.

Rolla was also an influential teacher. Beginning in 1807 he served as professor of violin and viola at the newly founded Milan Conservatory, and he taught composition privately, counting Cesare Pugni among his students. His chamber music, especially his trios for violin, viola, and bass, achieved considerable popularity in his lifetime. Rolla’s musical legacy continued through his family, as all three of his sons became musicians, with the youngest, Antonio, achieving particular distinction.

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