Paganini: 24 Caprices | Niccolo Paganini, Itzhak Perlman

Paganini: 24 Caprices | Niccolo Paganini, Itzhak Perlman | Absolute Perfection of Pearlman

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Paganini: 24 Caprices

	Paganini: 24 Caprices Niccolo Paganini, Itzhak Perlman EMI Classics, 2000 average customer review:based on 25 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

High praise from a "Rock Guy"

Forgive my excessive hyperbole, but this is by far the most stunning solo violin piece I've ever heard. I wasn't sure what to expect after hearing guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen rave about this, but I was absolutely floored! Since then, I've heard other musicians attempt the Caprices, but none played them with the ultimate confidence of Perlman. He demonstrates true mastery of his instrument, and imbues what could have been a dry technical exercise with joy, fury, and heart. For real fun, try to read along with the sheet music... it's a GOOD kind of hurt, honest!

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Absolute Perfection of Pearlman

I would give a BIG applause to Perlman... He had a very astonishing playing as a violinist. In my whole life, I know that Paganini's Caprices is the greatest challenge to all virtuoso. I also a violinist and I had seen Caprices' partiture and wow almost all his notes is a very very fast notes. Even violin teachers would consider twice when they are asked to play even the easiest number of the Caprices. There are very lack of world virtuoso who completely play all the Caprices. My most favorite number is 1,2,10,16,24. They are the most fastest playing of the Caprices plus they all recorded in a very good condition. The violin's sound is heard clearly, crystal clear. I think all violinist should listen to this recording in order to motivate their skills. I just love the tenth variation of #24 the pizzicato is combined with a short bowing on the string. The #2 showing the Bach's influence and when it comes to haunt, it really gives haunting quality on G string. That is all why I give it 5 stars

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Masterful Violin

Drawn to Paganini from the classic Steve Allen's "Meeting of the Minds" on which Paganini was there and the actor portraying him played several of the caprices.

What double-bowing happens here which Paganini developed and perfected.

Fascinating to know that many of the world's greatest violinists never recorded all 24 like Perlman. This is marvelous work. Especially fine #24 wonderful, and one does here the melody line used by such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, etc.

Great for collection!

overrated

This is certainly a very good recording of the caprices, but there are at least 3 or four better ones out there. The layman might be fooled into thinking that Perlman is the ultimate virtuoso, but connoisseurs know better. I would submit the Paganini caprice recordings of Shlomo Mintz, Midori, Michael Rabin, and for those into vintage recordings, Ossy Renardy. They are superior to Perlman on a violinistic, if not musical level. Perlman's greatest strength is his musical personality, not his technique. In that respect, there are others who are superior to him.

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good performance, if not the best

Perlman's 24 Caprices has been a critics' favorite. This is a fine recording, yet sometimes he sounds too imposing throughout and lacks in dimension. Though a lot of people claim this to be, this is not technically perfect performance either. He sounds quite good on fast pieces and passages, but he loses force and intensity in difficult double stoppings and octave trills, it sounds scratchy and quite obvious. I am not saying this is a bad performance, this is actually very good, but there are more interesting ones out there.

My choice would go to Midori, James Ehnes and Michael Rabin. Midori's is probably THE ONE. Her Caprices are amazingly accurate and there is an air of serenity and depth in music. James Ehnes performs like fire with great technique. He contrasts the music in such an exciting way. Though it is an old recording, Michael Rabin's Caprices show his uniquely-sophisticated style with refreshing nuances here and there.

Those 3 stand out and make Perlman's Caprices sound relatively round and mediocre.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5

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