Pugnani was one of the foremost violinist of the eighteenth century. His home was in Turin, a place he kept returning to throughout his extensive travels, and where he began studying the violin with Somis. Pugnani was also able to study the violin with Corelli and composition with Ciampi. Because of his powerful and eloquent playing the modern bow may have been developed. He had conversations with both the elder and the younger Tourte who developed the bow still employed today. Pugnani traveled extensively throughout Europe affording him the opportunity to perform with J.C. Bach and other prominent musicians. He served in a number of capacities during his musical career including the director of the King's music in Turin from 1776. Compositions by Pugnani included approximately twenty sonatas for the violin and continuo, about forty trio sonatas, chamber music, four movement symphonies demonstrating the Mannheim and Vienna influence, and operas among which were "Nanetta e Lubino" (1769). Though no enigmatic qualities define Pugnani's works he had operas staged in Turin, Naples, Paris, London, and Vienna and composed an orchestral suite based on Goethe's "Young Man Werther." ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi