Rolla's appealing Concertino for viola, cello and bassoon, dating from the early 1780s, was written to be played by the composer and two of his fellow virtuosos in the orchestra of the ducal court of Parma when touring in northern Italy. Though classical in its harmonic and melodic language, and in the structure and number of its movements, the work features several solos that exploit the higher registers of the instruments, particularly the cello and bassoon, in a somewhat 'un-classical' manner. This is an unusual and most welcome addition to the chamber repertoires of all three instruments.
