Carnival of Venice, Op. 78

Giulio Briccialdi (1818-1881) was a preeminent Italian flutist and composer, widely hailed during his lifetime as the
"Paganini of the Flute." He was a central figure in transitioning the flute into its modern form and expanding its technical repertoire. Briccialdi is most famous among flutists for inventing the B-flat thumb lever in 1849. This mechanical improvement solved a major fingering difficulty on the Boehm-system flute and remains a standard feature on nearly every flute manufactured nowadays.
Born in Terni, he became the flute teacher to the Count of Syracuse (brother of the King of Naples) at age 17. He later toured Europe and the Americas as a celebrated virtuoso, known for his extraordinary speed and melodic grace. He was a master of the operatic paraphrase, creating elaborate fantasies on works by Verdi (such as Rigoletto and Macbeth), Rossini, and Bellini.
After years of touring Europe and America, Briccialdi spent the 1850s transitioning back to his home country. He returned to Milan and Turin for concert series in 1852, eventually settling permanently in Florence by 1870 to focus on teaching. His technical studies and his appointment as Professor of Flute at the Florence Conservatory ensured his influence on future generations of performers. Upon his death in 1881, he was so revered that a public subscription was organized to return his remains to his birthplace in Terni, where the city's Conservatorio Statale di Musica Giulio Briccialdi is named in his honor.