Pietro Antonio Locatelli was born in Bergamo on September 3, 1695. Little is known about his childhood, but by the age of 15 he had already secured a position at the important church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo. In 1711, Locatelli was given the opportunity to study in Rome. Evidence suggests that he received instruction there from Giuseppe Valentini, although it was initially assumed that he was a pupil of Corelli.
In the late 1720s, Locatelli began concert tours north of the Alps, gaining renown as a virtuoso. In 1729, he finally settled permanently in Amsterdam. There, he worked not only as a successful music teacher but also as an orchestra conductor, instrument dealer, and composer.
Locatelli published his first work, the twelve Concerti Grossi, in 1721, thus establishing a close connection to Amsterdam. While the Italian music publishing market stagnated, composers in Amsterdam benefited from new printing methods and techniques. Locatelli was particularly acclaimed for his exceptional virtuosity, especially with his collection 'L'Arte del Violino', and was dubbed the 'Paganini of the 18th century'. Although his style is reminiscent of Paganini, his works possess a unique complexity. Despite his technical prowess, Locatelli's concertos were rooted in traditional forms, influenced by composers such as Corelli and Valentini.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Locatelli preserved numerous traditional structures of 17th-century instrumental music in his concertos. He combined conservative patterns with modern elements, much like Geminiani. His compositions, which displayed both Roman and Venetian influences, found a large following, particularly in England and the Netherlands.
However, Locatelli's Op. 1 was less successful in 18th-century England than in other countries. Critics such as Charles Burney and Charles Avison were reserved in their assessment, particularly criticizing the lack of variety and surprise in his pieces. Nevertheless, his concertos, especially op. 1, deserve recognition for their fine elaboration, original structures and virtuosic design, and are among the outstanding concerti grossi of their era.