Itzhak Perlman - Paganini: 24 Caprices

Warner Classics

£27

Format: 2 LP 12” Vinyl
Barcode: 0190295184957
Release Date: 23rd October 2020
Genre: Classical

Ever since they were first published in Milan in 1820, the 24 Caprices of Niccolò Paganini have been regarded as the ultimate challenge for any virtuoso violinist. They are provocatively dedicated Agli artisti (‘To the artists’), but few of Paganini’s contemporaries were able to tackle the multiple technical demands inherent in the most astounding solo violin works yet written. In the 20th century, even allowing for the development of instrumental technique, the advent of modern recording technology and its editing facilities, few performers in our own age have been brave enough to commit all 24 of the Caprices to disc. The legendary Jascha Heifetz recorded only three, Yehudi Menuhin only six. The Italian maestro Ruggiero Ricci, a life-long advocate of Paganini’s music, was the first to set down all 24 on record. But it was Israeli-born Perlman in 1972, then aged 26, who was to make the definitive recording. Almost half a century later, Perlman’s recording remains the benchmark by which all others are measured.

NICOLÒ PAGANINI 1782-1840
24 Caprices, Op.1
SIDE A
No.1 in E major: Andante
No.2 in B minor: Moderato
No.3 in E minor: Sostenuto - Presto - Sostenuto
No.4 in C minor: Maestoso
No.5 in A minor: Agitato
No.6 in G minor: Lento

SIDE B
No.7 in A minor: Posato
No.8 in E flat major: Maestoso
No.9 in E major: Allegretto
No.10 in G minor: Vivace
No.11 in C major: Andante - Presto - Andante
No.12 in A flat major: Allegro

SIDE C
No.13 in B flat major: Allegro
No.14 in E flat major: Moderato
No.15 in E minor: Posato
No.16 in G minor: Presto
No.17 in E flat major: Sostenuto - Andante
No.18 in C major: Corrente - Allegro
No.19 in E flat major: Lento - Allegro assai

SIDE D
No.20 in D major: Allegretto
No.21 in A major: Amoroso - Presto
No.22 in F major: Marcato
No.23 in E flat major: Posato
No.24 in A minor: Tema con variazioni (quasi presto)

Itzhak Perlman violin

REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES IN 24-BIT/96kHz AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, 2015

Recorded: Abbey Road Studios, London, 10.I.1972; Brent Town Hall, London, 11 & 12.I.1972
Producer: Suvi Raj Grubb · Balance engineer: Christopher Parker
STEREO · Originally released as EMI / HMV ASD 3384
Original cover artwork
Total timing: 72.37
0190295184957 · A Warner Classics release, (P) 1972 & Remastered (P) 2015 Parlophone Records Limited. © 2020 Parlophone Records Limited