The Best Of Paganini

$19.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
May 20, 1997
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      PAGANINI
    • PERFORMER
      Norbert, Polish National R, Ilya, Kraft, Moshe, Kaler, Stephen, Hammer, Gerald, Gunzenhauser, Garcia
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7, MS 48: III. Rondo a la clochette, "La campanella"

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Ensemble: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

      Conductor: Stephen Gunzenhauser

    2. I. Adagio

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Moshe Hammer, Norbert Kraft

    3. II. Rondoncino

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Moshe Hammer, Norbert Kraft

    4. Romanza

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Gerald Garcia

    5. Andantino variato

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Gerald Garcia

    6. No. 1 in E Major: Andante

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    7. No. 5 in A Minor

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    8. No. 9 in E Major

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    9. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7, MS 48: II. Adagio

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Ensemble: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

      Conductor: Stephen Gunzenhauser

    10. Adagio assai espressivo

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Scott St. John, Simon Wynberg

    11. Rondeau: Allegretto con brio scherzando

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Scott St. John, Simon Wynberg

    12. No. 13 in B-Flat Major

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    13. No. 20 in D Major

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    14. No. 24 in A Minor

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

    15. Cantabile in D Major, Op. 17, MS 109 (arr. for violin and guitar)

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Performer: Scott St. John, Simon Wynberg

    16. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6, MS 21: III. Rondo: Allegro spiritoso

      Composer: Niccolò Paganini

      Ensemble: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ilya Kaler

      Conductor: Stephen Gunzenhauser


We could also have called this disc 'The Ilya Kaler Showcase', as he is the dazzling soloist in the Violin Concertos and the 24 Caprices. The American Record Guide described them as "in a class by themselves", and the Gramophone described him as "a first-rate fiddler". Paganini was such an incredible virtuoso that in his lifetime rumors were rife that he was possessed of the devil, a fact greatly inflamed by his appearance. He was also a highly suspicious man, the scores of his works for violin and orchestra being devoid of the violin part so that no one could become his rival in his own music. We know the date of composition of the second concerto as 1826, but the first is more doubtful, and probably as early as 1817. They are both demonstrations of violin technique, his frequent use of playing plucked notes (pizzicati) with the left hand creating a cascade of notes. He also composed a considerable amount of music for other instruments including works for violin and guitar, and the Gramophone magazine writing about the Cantone di Sonata included on this disc says "it is unlikely that the Centone will ever be better played".