Roaming the Romantic Period

In his day, Paganini was regarded as the greatest violinist in the world. His violin technique was unparalleled, and his violin concertos were so demanding that, in practice, only he himself could play them. As a virtuoso, he toured extensively throughout Europe, building his reputation until he had almost achieved the status of a pop idol. Today, he is known almost exclusively for his violin concertos. His Capricci for solo violin are also performed and recorded regularly.

Paganini composed six violin concertos. The Fourth is rarely performed, which inspired Shunske Sato to programme it in a series of concerts with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in Australia in 2016. ABC Classics released a CD recording of one of these performances, which we will hear today, including the final applause.

Sato has this to say about Paganini: “I believe Paganini has much more to offer than his usual image of flashy virtuosity with a cheeky edge might suggest. Accounts of his concerts from the time describe not only his technical brilliance, but also the extraordinary expressiveness and lyrical quality of his playing — and how he moved men to tears and caused women to faint (although the latter was undoubtedly due in part to their corsets). Alongside the fireworks and impossibly difficult passages in his music, I also want to highlight its elegance, subtlety, humour and sincerity. Only then does his music feel complete to me — and become personally enriching and moving.”

The concerto is followed by three guitar sonatas and a sonata for violin and guitar. Paganini was a great lover of the guitar and played the instrument himself. Elements of his familiarity with guitar technique can be heard in the solo parts of his violin concertos.

Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840)

1. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 4 in D minor (MS 60)
   Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, conducted by Shunske Sato (violin)
   (CD: The Romantics: Grieg, Mendelssohn, Paganini — ABC Classics, ABC4814952, 2017)

Sonatas for Guitar

2. No. 24 in G major
3. No. 25 in E major
4. No. 26 in A major
   Mauro Bonelli (guitar; anonymous, 19th century)
   (CD: Opera omnia per chitarra, Vol. 2 — Tactus, TC 781692, 2024)
5. Sonata for Violin and Guitar No. 14 in G major (from Centone di sonate, MS 112)
   Fabio Biondi (violin), Giangiacomo Pinardi (guitar; Mauchant Frères, c. 1825)
   (CD: Sonatas for Violin and Guitar — Glossa, GCD 923410, 2018)

Additional track:

6. Sonata for Guitar No. 20 in C major
   Mauro Bonelli (guitar)
   (CD: see tracks 2–4)

Image: Niccolò Paganini (Wikipedia)