A watershed in the violin repertoire, recorded for the first time in its complete original version, edited by Albert Dunning and published by Schott, which has fully restored its exceptional character, the 24 Caprices by Pietro Antonio Locatelli are unique in terms of both their form and their content.

Taken from 'L'Arte del Violino' Op.III published in 1733 in Amsterdam, the Caprices are placed at the end of the external movements of the 12 Concertos which make up the collection. They are the written cadenzas from each movement. Locatelli specified in the heading of the score, that these Caprices can be played independently of the Opus III concertos. They are autonomous pieces which have all the characteristics of the cadenza: a very free form and a highly inventive unparalleled virtuosity, laying the basis for modern violin playing techniques.

Locatelli had to have a violin built especially for him, which had a longer fingerboard than is found on today's baroque-made instruments and it is to pay homage to their modernity that this recording has been made on a modern instrument, which allows all the effects imagined by Locatelli to be expressed.

The technique and musicality of Gabriel Tchalik, a young and talented Franco-Russian violinist, shine here.