Description
There are many reasons why this collection of compositions, known to all as Paganini’s Caprices, appeals to enthusiasts, even those who are not particularly well versed in the field of classical music. Let us try to list them: in first place I would certainly put the ambiguity of the genre. Exercises dedicated to those who want to learn violin technique taken to extremes, or pieces of bravura whose access is reserved for particularly skilled players? The answer is obvious. But it is the dedication of the composer himself that immediately gives us a clarifying answer. These compositions are generically dedicated to “artists” and, although not further specified, this term inevitably makes us think of the artists who hold Paganini’s instrument: the violin. In fact, there are 24 compositions that almost paroxysmally highlight the bravura of the performer. Ricordi published them with the oP. no. 1, as if to underline that this is where it all begins.
Capriccio Plus One
Paganini’s unpublished composition Capriccio for solo violin is dated Vienna 9 August 1828. This first version is composed in four lines, one for each finger of the performing violinist, dedicated to H.E. Count Maurizio Dietrichstein.
