's violin and guitar duets are pleasant diversions that most listeners will find quite agreeable in small doses; yet only the true aficionado or dedicated violin student would find a comprehensive set of all these works necessary or desirable. This nine-disc set of the complete sonatas, duets, and variations offers more than anyone might need, and it is perhaps most suitable for serious collections and libraries. Violinist Luigi Alberto Bianchi and guitarist Maurizio Preda deliver these charming pieces with polish, warmth, and intimacy, and they are quite entertaining. Paganini's music is amiable and lighthearted, more relaxed and convivial than it is in the famous Caprices (24) or in his other intensely virtuosic showpieces. The violin part overflows with lyricism and humor, and it is often matched in expressiveness and vivacity by the transparent guitar accompaniment. However, the consistency of textures, tones, and timbres begins to wear on perusal of the discs, and delight quickly turns into mild boredom. Anyone acquainted with the 1994
may have already determined that an album of selections is preferable to a compendium. Recorded between 1985 and 2003,
's sound is splendid and remarkably constant for such a long time span. ~ Blair Sanderson, Rovi
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 1 in A minor. Introduzione - Larghetto, Allegro maestoso - Tempo di marcia) |
4:31 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 1 in A minor. Rondoncino - Allegro) |
3:31 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 2 in D major. Adagio cantabile) |
3:14 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 2 in D major. Rondoncino - Andantino, Tempo di Polacea) |
4:23 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 3 in C major. Introduzione - Prestissimo, Larghetto cantabile) |
4:43 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 4 in A major. Adagio cantabile) |
2:50 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 4 in A major. Rondò - Andantino, Allegretto) |
6:02 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 5 in E major. Allegro assai) |
4:22 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 5 in E major. Andantino vivace, tre variazioni) |
4:14 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 6 in A major. Larghetto cantabile) |
3:04 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 6 in A major. Rondò - Allegro assai) |
5:01 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Cantabile, for violin & piano (or guitar) in D major, (MS 109) |
4:14 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 7 in F major. Allegro giusto - Buonamente) |
6:11 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 7 in F major. Polacca - Andantino. Allegretto) |
8:13 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 8 in G major. Andante cantabile) |
2:21 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 8 in G major. Rondò - Allegretto) |
5:39 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 9 in A major. Allegro maestoso - Tempo di marcia) |
3:44 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 9 in A major. Tema - Andante placido) |
1:24 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 9 in A major. Variazione 1) |
1:00 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 9 in A major. Variazione 2) |
1:05 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 9 in A major. Variazione 3 - Più mosso) |
1:15 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 10 in C major. Allegro risoluto) |
5:13 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 10 in C major. Rondò - Andantino vivace (Tempo di Pastorale)) |
4:47 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 11 in A minor. Cantabile - Andante appassionato, con flessibilità) |
3:42 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 11 in A minor. Tema - Allegro moderato) |
0:54 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 11 in A minor. Variazione 1) |
0:49 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 11 in A minor. Variazione 2) |
1:36 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 11 in A minor. Finale - Tempo di Valz) |
1:24 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 12 in D major. Andante cantabile) |
2:55 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 12 in D major. Rondò - Allegretto) |
4:25 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 13 in E major. Introduzione - Maestoso) |
0:27 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 13 in E major. Larghetto - Cantabile) |
2:27 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 13 in E major. Rondò Allegretto - Con Brio) |
6:10 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 14 in G major. Andante Adagetto) |
2:56 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 14 in G major. Rondò - Allegro molto vivace) |
7:00 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Introduzione - Maestoso) |
1:09 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Tema - Andante moderato) |
1:12 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Variazione 1) |
1:00 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Minore (Variazione 2)) |
1:31 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Maggiore (Variazione 3)) |
1:30 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 15 in A major. Rondò - Allegretto) |
6:06 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 16 in E major. Allegro vivace) |
1:44 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 16 in E major. Minuetto a Valtz - Allegro vivo) |
5:52 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 17 in A major. Introduzione - Andante, Corrente) |
0:27 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 17 in A major. Andante - Cantabile) |
2:03 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 17 in A major. Rondò - Allegro vivo) |
5:06 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 18 in C major. Allegro - Presto) |
6:14 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (18) for violin & guitar ("Centone di Sonate"), MS 112 (Sonata No. 18 in C major. Rondò. Balletto - Allegro vivissimo) |
4:56 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 9 |
17:32 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 10 |
21:56 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 11 |
25:49 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 12 |
20:04 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 13 |
21:43 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 133 |
21:27 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar ("Lucca Sonatas"), MS 134 |
28:58 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Duetto amoroso, for violin & guitar (or violin & piano) in C major, MS 111 |
12:50 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Entrata d'Adone nella reggia di Venere, for violin & guitar in C major, MS 8 |
2:02 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar, Op. 2, MS 26 |
26:41 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonatas (6) for violin & guitar, Op. 3, MS 27 |
29:39 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Moto perpetuo, for violin & guitar (or orchestra) in C major, Op. 11, MS 72 |
4:24 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Sonata concertata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 61, MS 2 |
14:46 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Cantabile and Waltz, for violin & guitar in E major, MS 45 |
7:15 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Variations (60) on Barucabà, for violin & guitar, Op. 14, MS 71 |
42:36 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Duetti (6), for violin & guitar (or violin & piano), MS 110 |
30:29 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Carmagnola, variations for violin & guitar |
19:06 |
| Niccolò Paganini |
Grand Sonata, for guitar & violin in A major, Op. 35, MS 3 |
24:52 |