Accardo Plays Paganini: Complete Recordings (6 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Salvatore Accardo
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Charles Dutoit
Composer: Niccolo Paganini
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 1.69 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

# Violin Concerto No.1 in E flat major (usually transposed to D major), Op. 6, MS 21 In D major
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor (“La campanella”), Op. 7, MS 48
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Violin Concerto No.3 in E major, MS 50
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor, MS 60
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Violin Concerto No.5 in A minor (orchestral part lost), MS 78
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# La Primavera (orchestra parts lost), sonata with variations for violin & orchestra in A major, Op. 30, MS 73
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Maestosa sonata sentimentale (“Variations on the Austrian National Hymn”), for violin & orchestra, Op. 27, MS 51
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Violin Concerto in E minor (No.6) (orchestral part lost)
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Sonata and Variations on ‘Pria ch’io l’impegno’ from Weigl’s “L’amor Marinaro”, for violin & orchestra (or piano) in E major, MS 47
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Introduction and Variations on “Non più mesta” from Rossini’s “La cenerentola”, for violin & orchestra in E flat major, Op. 12; MS 2
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Le streghe, variations for violin & orchestra in E flat major, Op. 8, MS 19
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Napoléon, for violin & orchestra (or violin & piano) in E flat major, MS 5
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# I palpiti, introduction & variations on “Di tanti palpiti” from Rossini’s “Tancredi,” for violin & orchestra, Op 13, MS 77
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Molto perpetuo, for violin & orchestra (or piano), MS 66 (“Sonata movimento perpetuo”, “Perpetuela”)
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
with Salvatore Accardo
Conducted by Charles Dutoit

# Capriccio on “Nel cor più non mi sento”, for violin solo in G major, Op. 38, MS 44
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
with Salvatore Accardo

# Sonata for violin solo in C major, MS 6
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
with Salvatore Accardo

# Variations on “God Save the King”, for violin & orchestra, Op. 9, MS 56
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
with Salvatore Accardo

# Caprices (24) for solo violin, Op. 1, MS 25
Composed by Niccolo Paganini
with Salvatore Accardo

Disc 1:
01. Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.6 – 1. Allegro maestoso
02. Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.6 – 2. Adagio
03. Violin Concerto No.1 in D, Op.6 – 3. Rondo (Allegro spirituoso)
04. Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor, Op.7 – 1. Allegro maestoso – Cadenza
05. Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor, Op.7 – 2. Adagio
06. Violin Concerto No.2 in B minor, Op.7 – 3. Rondo à la clochette, ‘La campanella’

Disc 2:
01. Violin Concerto No.3 in E – 1. Introduzione (Andante) – Allegro marziale – cadenza
02. Violin Concerto No.3 in E – 2. Adagio (Cantabile spianato)
03. Violin Concerto No.3 in E – 3. Polacca (Andantino vivace)
04. Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor – 1. Allegro maestoso – cadenza
05. Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor – 2. Adagio flebile con sentimento
06. Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor – 3. Rondo galante (Andantino gaio)

Disc 3:
01. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.5 in A minor – Allegro maestoso – cadenza
02. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.5 in A minor – Andante, un poco sostenuto – attacca
03. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.5 in A minor – Finale. Rondo. Andantino quasi Allegretto
04. La Primavera – Sonata for Violin and Orchestra in A
05. Maestosa Sonata sentimentale

Disc 4:
01. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, op.post , no.6 – 1. Risoluto – Cadenza: Salvatore Accardo
02. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, op.post , no.6 – 2. Adagio – Cadenza: Salvatore Accardo
04. Sonata con Variazioni su un Tema di Joseph Weigl
03. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, op.post , no.6 – 3. Rondò ossia Polonese
05. Introduzione e Variazioni sul tema Non più mesta da “La Ceneren- tola” di Rossini for violin and orchestra
06. Le Streghe, Op.8

Disc 5:
01. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 1 in E
02. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 2 in B minor
03. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 3 in E minor
04. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 4 in C minor
05. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 5 in a minor
06. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 6 in G minor
07. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 7 in A minor
08. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 8 in E flat
09. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 9 in E
10. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 10 in G minor
11. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 11 in C
12. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 12 in A flat
13. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 13 in B flat
14. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 14 in E flat
15. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 15 in E minor
16. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 16 in G minor
17. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 17 in E flat
18. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 18 in C
19. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 19 in E flat
20. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 20 in D
21. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 21 in A
22. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 22 in F
23. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 23 in E
24. 24 Caprices for Violin, Op.1 – No. 24 in A minor

Disc 6:
01. Sonata Napoleone
02. I Palpiti, Op.13
03. Perpetuela – Allegro vivace
04. Introduction and Variations on “Nel cor più non mi sento” for Solo Violin
05. Duo merveille Sonata per violino solo in C major
06. Variations on “God save the Queen”, Op.9

Superb Paganini traversal by an indisputed violin wizard – Salvatore Accardo

Salvatore Accardo in his mid thirties committed to disc his vision on the whole Paganini oeuvre (including the 6 violin concertos, the 24 caprices and some works for violin and orchestra). Paired by the London Philharmonic under Charles Dutoit, Accardo achieved – beyond any doubt – a truly benchmark for ages. His technical perfection and inspired musicianship contributed to a wonderful moment of great music. Although considered as simply virtuosity-oriented pieces, favouring soloist’s bravura and responding to public’s need for stage wizardry, these works gain here a noble finesse and musical value. Not only the violinist shines, but also the orchestra which takes the risk of dealing with a bombast atmosphere or lamenting melodies, here and there. Of course, Accardo is the star in all these 6 CDs and determines the listener to play these recordings again and again. Surprisingly, the sound is alive and full of colour, assuming the performances took place more than three decades back.
Not to be missed by any collector who loves music played in grand style!