Theobald Böhm (1794-1881), born in Munich, was among the most accomplished German flautists of his age, as well as a composer and an ingenious inventor who perfected the construction of the flute. The son of a goldsmith, he learned his father’s craft, while at the same time studying music and the flute. In 1812 he was appointed first flute at the Royal Court Theatre at the Isarthor and began a brilliant solo career, which took him all over Europe from 1816. In 1828 he founded a flute manufacturing workshop in Munich, where over the years he developed and perfected his instrument, which made many new techniques possible. In 1847, Böhm patented a new model, which is substantially the flute used in our own time. Apart from his own original works Böhm transcribed many famous works of celebrated composers, including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Gluck. These versions of popular vocal or instrumental pieces were an eloquent way of proving that his “new flute” could perform works that posed audacious challenges, without any expressive limitations. Gian-Luca Petrucci has been first flute in several of the top orchestras of Italy. He was professor at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. As a scholar he published monographs on several (Italian) composers: Mercadante, Briccialdi, Gazzelloni, de Lorenzo and Mozart. His previous recordings for Brilliant Classics include works by Frederick The Great (BC 96538) and Mercadante (BC 96152).