5:31 Paganini s signature double harmonics rarely play today , this part was cut off by Kreisler in his easier version of Paganini's La Campanella
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Rondo La Campanella(La Clochette) is the last movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No.2 in b minor.
Rondo La Campanella(La Clochette) is the last movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No.2 in b minor.
Compared to the first two movements of the concerto ,which quite often musically disappointing,the third movement ,La Campanella(''The Bell"") is simply breathtaking,an unequivocal hit. To borrow Stendhal's words: "measure by measure,makes us smile with delight". There are only few masterpieces that are so vibrant with joy and life. to paint such extravagant happiness with a musical brush is a thing of wonder.It brings to mind Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as his Italian Symphony. In fact,these masterworks could have been inspired in part by La Campanella so iridescent with Mediterranean sun,that summer and magic seem to live through the music.
Paganini mesmerized a whole generation of romantic composers .Franz Liszt paid him the highest imaginable tribute by simply withdrawing from public performances in order to...practice after he attended Paganini concert. When he emerged his self-imposed solitude he become a legend of his own.Paganini's magic still endures , even among pianists. Today Liszt's version of La campanella belongs to one of the most beloved pieces in piano repertoire together with Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
Virtuosity has never ceased to excite, inspire, dazzle, surprise and ensnare. In the Golden Age of Virtuosos thousands flocked to newly built concert halls to experience the thrill and the wonder of its magic. Today with classical music so often labeled as boring , and art centers eliminating it entirely from their seasons,it defies my imagination why such a sure magnet for the public interest doesn't receive a broader welcome. And yet every time I perform virtuoso program together with my sister they have never failed to bring standing ovations and encores. No matter if the audience was well acquainted with the subject of classical music, come first time in years to experience it or simply wanted to listen to something entirely new.
In addition there seems to be a confusion about what really virtuosity is. I have quite often heard Kreisler pieces or violin sonatas of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms or Frank referred to as virtuoso pieces. In fact Kreisler's compositions are only meant as charming encores and in the beautiful sonatas I mentioned only piano parts show any virtuosity at all.
By the way, Kreisler's versions of Paganini's works would have surely inspired the latter to a vendetta bound trip to Vienna (Kreisler cut half of La Campanella...the most difficult half!!!).


Niccolo Paganini La Campanella from Violin Concerto No. 2 in b
Anna Karkowska Violin Kasia Karkowska Piano
Photo by Ellen Broughton
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