Gaetano Pugnani (Turin, November 27, 1731 - July 15, 1798), the Italian violinist, composer and conductor of the Teatro Regio in Turin, was a child prodigy and his exceptional talent and virtuosity brought him his first engagement at the Teatro Regio at the early age of 10 followed later by performances throughout Europe and Russia, which laid his considerable fame as a violinist.

His own teaching activities produced numerous violinists, the best-known among them being Viotti, with whom he u...