Product Description

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Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
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Release Date: 15-JUN-1999

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Violin Concerto No. 1 in E flat major (usually transposed to D major), Op. 6, MS 21: 1. Allegro maestoso
2. Violin Concerto No. 1 in E flat major (usually transposed to D major), Op. 6, MS 21: 2. Adagio
3. Violin Concerto No. 1 in E flat major (usually transposed to D major), Op. 6, MS 21: 3. Rondo. Allegro spirituoso
4. I palpiti, introduction & variations on 'Di tanti palpiti' from Rossini's 'Tancredi,' for violin & orchestra, Op. 13, MS 77
5. Le streghe, variations for violin & orchestra in E flat major, Op. 8, MS 19
6. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor, MS 60: 1. Allegro maestoso
7. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor, MS 60: 2. Adagio flebile con sentimento
8. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D minor, MS 60: 3. Rondo galante. Andantino gaio

Disc 2:

1. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48: 1. Allegro maestoso
2. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48: 2. Adagio
3. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor ('La campanella'), Op. 7, MS 48: 3. Rondo à la clochette, "La campanella"
4. Caprice for solo violin in B flat major ('The Devil's Chuckle'), Op. 1/13, MS 25/13
5. Caprice for solo violin in D major (Allegretto), Op. 1/20, MS 25/20
6. Caprice for solo violin in A minor (Theme & Variations), Op. 1/24, MS 25/24
7. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E major, MS 50: 1. Introlduzione. Andante - Allegro marziale
8. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E major, MS 50: 2. Adagio. Cantabile spianato
9. Violin Concerto No. 3 in E major, MS 50: 3. Polacca. Andantion vivace
10. Moto perpetuo, for violin & guitar (or orchestra) in C major, Op. 11, MS 72

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27968 in Music
• Brand: MARRINER/ACADEMY OF
• Released on: 1999-06-15
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

Excellent Introductory set of Paganini
This is a fine compilation. Not only it includes better compositions by Paganini, it also includes some of the best recorded performance of the works as well. As a musicological interest, Grumiaux and Szerying gave revival performances of no.3 and 4. The approaches the three violinists take are interesting to note as well. Szeryng and Grumiaux's playing emphasize the lyrical, aristocratic quality, whereas Gitlis emphasizes the demonic quality. And both approaches work splendidly. This set will provide an excellent introduction for people who does not know the compositions by Paganini, and will provide great pleasure for those who knows the music but has not heard them performed by these three wonderful violinists. Strongly recommended.

Fine compilation of Paganini
This is a fine collection of Paganini. Szeryng and Grumiaux gave the modern premieres for third and fourth concertos, respectively. Grumiaux's aristocratic performance of the fourth concerto has rarely been matched. In his performance, musicianship, technique and taste are balanced in an incomparable perfection. Szeryng's noble, distinguished performance of the third concerto has also very few equals. His restrained lyricism is particularly effective in the aria-like 2nd movement. As a pleasant surprise, Szeryng's performance has a great deal of charm as well (which is not always the case). Then as a contrast, this set has a hair-raisingly demonic performance of the second concerto by under-rated Ivry Gitlis. Gitlis's approach is 180 degree opposite from lyrical Grumiaux and Szeryng. Gitlis plays the concerto as if he is an personification of the devil himself, with gut-shattering vibrato and fearless abandan. Gitlis' fine performances of 3 caprices matches in every way with Heifetz's. The other recordings in this set are also distinguished, but not quite in the same level as the above mentioned. Grumiaux's lyrical performance of the first concerto sounds somewhat pale compared to young Yehudi Menuhin's 1934 performance, and so as his recording of two variations (Ricci plays a better Le Streghe, and I don't understand why Philips did not use Gitlis' version of I palpiti, which is much better). Marrinar's competent but hardly exciting perpetuo mobile (compare with Toscanini's recording!) could have been substituted with several more of Gitlis' Paganini short pieces he recorded during the 1960's on Philips. But this compilation is definitely worth getting for the concertos nos.2, 3 & 4. And the price is good too!

Unexpected Delights
I bought this CD after hearing of the legend of Paganini - the devil on his shoulder, the playing that made people faint, the Marfan-syndrome affected joints that allowed impossible finger contortions, the immense crowds that adored him, as they did Liszt at the piano. What I expected was to hear impossible violin artistry at work, which was definitely fulfilled. What I did not expect, however, were the marvelous interludes between the violin solos. Paganini's concerti are unlike those of Beethoven and Brahms, as the violin completely dominates the attention. But the power of the full orchestra was unexpected. These are true violin showpieces, to be certain, but they are also marvelous bits of music - when the full orchestra blasts in you can't help but smile.