Bel Canto Paganini

Bel Canto Paganini

• Harmonia Mundi
• Classical

Billboard chart-topping violinist Rachel Barton Pine traverses Paganinis ground breaking set of 24 Caprices with virtuosic flair and, in equal measure, reverence for the bel canto, or beautiful singing,'' style of the composers generation. Playing on the ex-Bazzini, ex-Soldat Guarneri del Gesù violin from 1742, made by the same Cremona-based maker in the same year as Paganinis own violin, Rachel channels the composers own technical wizardry as well as his love for beautiful melodies. Rachel was first introduced to Paganinis Caprices at the age of six. In her early twenties she gave her first performance of all 24 Caprices in a single concert, a feat she has accomplished several times since including at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and the Ravinia Festival. Rachel fills out this release with other pyrotechnical works by Paganini, including his Duet for One, Caprice dadieu and the Introduction and Variations on Nel cor più non mi sento from Giovanni Paisiellos opera La molinara. Inspired by Paganinis legacy of virtuosic themes and variations, Rachel concludes the set with her own Introduction, Theme and Variations on God Defend New Zealand, written in 2000 for the final concert of her first tour of that country. Paganini dedicated his 24 Caprices ''to all the artists. Rachel in turn dedicates this recording to all the listeners, of which there will be legions.