Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840)
Benjamin Schmid, violin
Lisa Smirnova, piano
Ariane Haering, piano
About this program writes Benjamin
Schmid in the booklet to his birthday box
at OehmsClassics
(this CD is already included
in the box):
“My favourite pieces, albeit usually in the versions
by the incomparably ingenious arranger
Fritz Kreisler, are: Paganini’s greatest hit during his
lifetime: Le streghe, coupled to Rossini’s Non più
mesta, music of acrobatic virtuosity, always linked
to filigree sensitivity. Paganini’s bel canto Cantabile
must be included, as must his moving Sonata XII
or the popular La Campanella. They are side by
side with Milstein’s Paganiniana – still one of my
most frequent encores – or the classic Devil’s Trill
Sonata by Tartini. Alexander Müllenbach’s Capriccio
forms a bridge to virtuosity today.”