The Italian Giulio Briccialdi was taught to play the flute chiefly by his father. His virtuoso career began at an early age and he was appointed as flute teacher to the Count of Syracuse in Sicily. On numerous tours his playing drew enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics alike: ‘The only really good flute-player that I have ever seen’, wrote Rockstro in A Treatise on the Flute. In 1871 Briccialdi was appointed as a professor at the Conservatoire in Florence. Having been introduced to ...