Paganini composed his 24 solo Caprices between 1802 and 1817, and they were published in 1820 as his Op.1, dedicated 'agli artisti' ('to the artists').
Compositional Technique
Unlike most violin studies that focus on one technique, Paganini's Caprices ingeniously combine multiple technical challenges simultaneously.
Instruments
For this recording, Sueye Park performed on a Guarneri 'del Gesù' (Cremona 1739), an instrument similar to Paganini's favorite violin, also a Guarneri 'del Gesù' ('Il Cannone').
Cultural Impact
The influence of Paganini's virtuoso works on later composers, from Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt to Witold Lutosławski and Alfred Schnittke, is significant in combining instrumental virtuosity and musical innovation.
Composer Biography
Paganini's extraordinary flexibility, which aided his violin playing, was a result of him suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Composer Biography
Niccolò Paganini, the composer of the 24 Caprices, actively encouraged the popular notion that he had paranormal capabilities and was in league with the Devil.
Performer Biography
Sueye Park, the violinist on this recording, was accepted as a young pupil at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler at age nine due to her playing and unusual interest in original manuscripts.
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Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, MS 25
