Paganini Op. 1

[John]

Mintzhas always been ptrry much my favorite but yesterday I finally got a CD thta had been on order for about a year that contains some of the best paginin I have ever heard (among other things...). I didn`t know the playing of Steven Staryk. Now I do, and if I had the 500 plus dollars it costs I would go out and buy his newly released life work recordings like a shot. The single CD contained all manner of etudes and it was frankly rather weird to hear Paginini and sevcik on the same disc ;) but it is the most phenominal sound I can remeber. Hiuge and vibrant like Oistrakh at his best.

November 13, 2009 at 02:03 PM Paganini never hit the depth of genuine profundity any better than the theme of #24. That little theme is simple, even simplistic, yet haunting and endlessly absorbing. No wonder Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Ysaye, and others have been inspired to write their own variations. Paganini's own variations are still the classic model.

the 24.....all of them! Esp. since I heard Shlomo Mintz playing them on the huge Frankfurt Alte Oper stage in one set and since Tanja Becker-Bender put them all on her Hyperion/London debut, on her gorgeous Guarneri del Gesu. My favorites there are La Chasse (#9), the Devil's Laughter (13) and the 24.

January 13, 2010 at 05:29 PM ^^^ I think it becomes sort of relative to each player. And anyway, they're all quite difficult. Even the beginning to No. 20, as you mentioned as being easy, takes mastery in order to play it so convincingly and with perfect control.

u can have so much fun with it. paganini really captures all sort of mood. in the beginning, its somber and serious, then it morphs to become energetic and playful. lets not forget the fingered octaves which are of a grand stature.

July 20, 2015 at 05:35 PM I have a specific question concerning Paganini Caprice #21. Does anyone have an idea about the origin of the lovely aria (duo in 6ths) which is the basis of the piece? It is marked amoroso, so presumably is some sort of Italian love song. Is there a similar song from the era that Paganini may have borrowed?

July 21, 2015 at 04:17 AM Bruce - In my readings I have never seen any hint of a original song. And if you try to play any accompaniments to it (Schumanns, or Davids for example) you will se that it sounds quite forced with accompaniment. So I bet that it is an original melody by Paganini that was written to be unaccompanied.

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