Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor

The pinnacle of the Romantic double bass concerto repertoire, composed c.1876 by the virtuoso known as the "Paganini of the double bass." Bottesini's mastery of the instrument is evident in his demand for singing cantabile in the upper register, wide leaps, and rapid passage work that was thought impossible on the instrument. The lyrical slow movement in particular reveals the double bass's extraordinary potential for expressive, operatic melody.