Signor Piatti

A cabinet card portrait of the Italian violoncellist Carlo Alfredo Piatti (1822-1901)

Born in Bergamo in 1822, the son of a violinist, he studied at the Milan Conservatory. From 1838 onwards he travelled all over Europe, playing with extraordinary success in the all the important cities of the continent. In 1844 he appeared before the London public at a Philharmonic Concert, and in 1859, on the foundation of the Popular Concerts, he took up the work with which he was to be connected for thirty-nine seasons, retaining until 1897 the post of first violoncello at these famous chamber concerts. During his long career, he enriched the violoncello repertoire with many publications of the old classical sonatas in his own editions.

Photographed by Elliott and Fry of 55 Bakers Street, London.