Paganini & Schubert: Works for Violin& Piano

Schubert and Paganini may sound like drastically opposed composers, but that's not the case. By juxtaposing their work, violinist Vilde Frang and pianist Michael Lifits make a case for Schubert as a writer for virtuosos, and Paganini as a composer of great sensitivity. Though Schubert could only dream of the success Paganini achieved in his lifetime, here the two composers sit comfortably side by side.

Featuring

Vilde Frang
Michail Lifits
Niccolò Paganini
Franz Schubert
Franz Liszt
Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

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Composer's Artistic Vision

The album unites two contemporaries, Niccolò Paganini and Franz Schubert, to explore perceptions associated with them, despite their vastly different characters and destinies.

Cultural Impact

Paganini's music influenced significant composers like Brahms, Rachmaninov, and Lutosławski, attesting to his lasting impact.

Composer Biography

Franz Schubert, though a modest genius who achieved little recognition in his lifetime, is now acknowledged as the greatest lied composer of all time.

Compositional Technique

Paganini pioneered instrumental pieces based on arias from operas, a style that Vilde Frang notes was quite operatic.

Historical Context

Opera was the dominant popular art form of the era, with composers like Gioachino Rossini achieving international superstar status.

Compositional Technique

Paganini developed the left-hand pizzicato technique, using it brilliantly in his compositions, sometimes alternating it with bowing or creating duets from a single violin.