Album Notes

Virtuoso opera Fantasies

The sound of the violin has always had many similarities with the human voice. It is therefore not surprising that many violin virtuosos of the 19th and 20th centuries, in addition to performing the standard repertoire, composed their own music in which they fell back on familiar themes of operas that were popular with the public.

Niccolo Paganini, the famous 'devilish' violin virtuoso, has written several variations on the theme "Di tanti palpiti" from Rossini's "Tancredi". The introduction is melodious and full of coloraturas before the familiar theme introduces itself followed by several variations, full of virtuoso technical feats, with the beautiful second variation acting as a resting point because of its soft harmonics that give the impression of hearing someone dreamily whistling the theme in the distance.

The great violinist Jascha Heifetz has arranged a lot of music for violin and piano including the jazz opera "Porgy and Bess" by George Gershwin. According to
Heifetz' daughter Josefa her father loved dancing, together with his two sisters, and they were often present at parties where George Gershwin sat at the piano and played music all night. He thrilled his audience with mostly his own songs, always arranged differently and therefore every time fascinating to listen to because of changes in rhythm and harmony. Besides dancing to Gershwin's music it was not uncommon for Jascha Heifetz to play many of the show songs on his accordion or the piano (he was himself an excellent pianist) although these performances, unfortunately, were only reserved for his closest friends. Because Gershwin had not written anything for violin, Heifetz first transcribed three piano preludes and then proceeded to arrange a number of selected songs from Porgy and Bess. Given his outstanding qualities as a pianist he wrote a complex and challenging piano part, besides the great violinpart, that is interesting and rewarding to play for any pianist.

The Polish violinist and composer Henryk Wieniawski, a child prodigy and truly living up to that name later in life, has written many valuable works for the violin including the Faust-fantasy based on familiar melodies and arias from Gounod's opera "Faust". The fantasy begins with a mysterious and wonderful virtuoso opening where after a couple of beautiful themes are presented followed by a festive interlude. After this we hear the heartbreaking melody of " the garden scene", or the “love theme”, becoming a charming and then thundering waltz in which the ballet dancers from the opera come to mind who are dancing dizzying pirouettes until the music leads to a triumphant end.

The “Melody” from the opera "Orfeo ed Euridice" by Christoph Willibald Gluck was transcribed by the elegant violinist Fritz Kreisler who was best known for his infinite charm with which he played all of his music. This “Melody” actually is the “Andante” from the "Dance of the Blessed Spirits". In Gluck’s beloved opera, based on the famous Greek myth, Orfeo descends into Hades after the death of his wife Eurydice to look for her. In this particular scene the Spirits reward Orfeo for his loyalty by giving her back to him.

Sergei Prokofiev's March from "The Love for Three Oranges" was also arranged by Jascha Heifetz for violin and piano. Josefa Heifetz remembers how she and her brother at the height of the Cold War often listened to a radio show, called 'This Is Your FBI ", which ironically played Prokofiev's March as the opening tune. Her father was surprised by this which led to a new transcription that works miraculously well for violin and piano despite the fact that the original was written for full orchestra. One explanation might be that the craftsmanship of Prokofiev always remains intact and the fact that his unique harmonies and fresh style have been carefully preserved in the transcription.

Pablo de Sarasate, a Spanish violin virtuoso whose trademark was his fantastic technique and "sweet" tone combined with his physical appearance: his distinctive handlebar moustache, has bequeathed the "Carmen Fantasy", among many other famous works, to the violinists of today. This work was composed in 1883 when Bizet's opera "Carmen" was staged again in Paris, after a disastrous debut eight years earlier, where this time it was received with great enthusiasm by press and public. Being faithful to the familiar recipe, this fantasy also begins with an introduction followed by the famous "Habanera" in which the seductive leading role of the opera "Carmen" sings defiantly about love: "L'amour est un oisaeu rebelle" (love is a rebellious bird). After a slow middle section the "Séguedille" begins which is followed by the famous, whirling finale "Chanson Bohème" where the virtuosity on the violin is brought to a climax.