A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rolla, Alessandro

ROLLA, Alessandro, violinist and composer, born at Pavia, April 6, 1757. He first studied the pianoforte, but soon exchanged it for the violin, which he learned under Renzi and Conti. He had also a great predilection for the viola, and wrote and performed in public concertos for that instrument. For some years he was leader of the band at Parma, and it was there that Paganini was for some months his pupil. [See Paganini.] In 1802 he went to Milan as leader and conductor of the opera at La Scala, in which position he gained a great reputation. He was also for many years a professor at the Conservatorio of Milan, and died in that town, September 15, 1841, aged 84. His compositions, now entirely forgotten, had considerable success in their time; they consist of a large number of violin duets, some trios, quartets and quintets for stringed instruments, and concertos for the violin and for the viola. His son and pupil, Antonio, violinist, was born at Parma, April 18, 1798; from 1823 till 1835 was leader of the Italian Opera band at Dresden, and died there, May 19, 1837. He published concertos and other solo pieces for the violin.

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