Customer Reviews

24 Caprices

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am an avid violinist who has just finished high school. Paganini wrote these caprices upon early retirement in early adulthood at about the same age as me. Within these 24 caprices lies the incredible technical wizardry of his playing.

However, what is not present in the sheet paper is the demonic, powerful, and vivacious playing of the great master himself. As a violinist, it is obvious truth that much of Paganini's secrets disappeared with him to the grave.

This leads up to this recording. As a violinist who is currently playing through caprices No. 1, 14, 20, and 24, this recording captures the essence of what Paganini should be. Markov's recording is not technically perfect and is bested in many aspects by other interpretations (Midori, for example). However, what makes this performance so incredible is the fact that it was recorded live in Italy and it exemplifies the dark, mysterious attributes of the composer. The pure wickedness with which Markov plays the caprices is definitely the most accurate interpretation: Paganini was most well known for pushing the violin to its limits, improvising readily in concert, and creating incredible musical contrasts. This is something that definitely does not come out on any other recording that I know of: other recordings are technically better but lack spirit and emotion, others are excellent but have an entirely different musical interpretation (Perlman).

If all that had been accomplished was technique, perhaps the caprices would be etudes for study. Instead, they are the most powerful statement that an unaccompanied violinst can make, alongside the Bach unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas. Markov demonstrates this in a most excellent fashion, pushing the edge of musicality while keeping as much of the technical framework as is truly needed.

The result is stunning, even compared to standards such as Accardo (another excellent interpretation, much more technical and arguably boring in comparison). Markov is truly a demon violinist, especially on the 24th caprice.

This recording is a necessity for lovers of Paganini's works, classical fans, and especially violinists.

After Seeing comments of some "highly acclaimed critics" on this website I must say that they seem not to have a need for Mr. Markov's CD but rather a desperate craving for a metronome and a synthesizer.
Rythm? Yes, a caprice is capricious, but I have a strong feeling of rythm in this heartfelt interpratation, and what? Do I not have a feeling for an even beat? I can still tap my foot if I want to. Will I enjoy this performance more? I doubt it.
Who really knows "How it was meant to be played"(I do not claim know)? Many claim to know, but who REALLY knows? Do they arrive at these precise conclusions after exhuming and examining dead bodies of composers? Sure, there are general guidelines in scores, but it is only comparable to a very general outline. I would hate to see all performers striving to recreate intentions of composers. Each individual interpratation is like a jewel. This one is certainly a precious stone, priceless, yet still [affordable].
Intonation? It is funny that someone would have a need to complain. I was blessed with the curse of absolute pitch (supposedly) and in my humble opinion anyone who complains about this CD should put as much effort into self criticism as s/he did in writing a review that complains about intonation. I challenge this person/s to finding one Pagannini CD that has perfect intonation. This "perfection" does not exhist. I am not an emotional wreck looking for "emotional highs" I love "perfection".
I feel comical to even speak about these details. I only write to say this, because if a young player is drawn away from buying this CD, simply because of a very amatour critique (after maybe one semester of "Music and The Place It Has in Our Lives" in some small college) it would be an irrepairable loss. This must be the CD that I remember so fondly when as a child of six, I looked up to Mr. Markov and practiced six hours a day while listening to his CD (tape back then) every day. I can not express to You, how warmly I feel about this miracle, jewel of a performance.

I have never heard a performance of Paganini caprices played with such demonic abandon! Alexander Markov has temperament and technique to burn. Through his magical performances, these caprices begin to breath a new life. Mr. Markov never seems to be afraid of tasking risks, and the risks he takes! His tone is fiery and at times quite percussive as the music demands, but can be etheral as well. Here is a performance that really evokes the diabolical legend of Paganini. Enjoy!

Alexander Markov's recording is an extremely bold statement of the challenges of violinistic expression and playing. To leave the recording as merely unpolished/unedited live performance from beginning to end (#1 to #24) is an extremely audacious proposition. I do think that a judgement of this recording based solely on technical perfection is a little hasty.

For anyone who attempts the 24 Caprices, it is obvious that there are expectations of (technical and/or musical) execution of these famous pieces. However, one must remember that Paganini was a man of extreme character with bold showmanship. Although one would argue that since it is virtually impossible to understand and hear what the composed music was supposed to sound like in the head of the composer, Markov does a great job at interpreting the music according to Paganini's temperament - bold showmanship, even controversial. For sure, Paganini himself was a very controversial man in his time.

One can understand why some view this performance negatively because it is really jagged, unpolished and the playing really erratic compared to conventional classical music traditions.

But Markov's playing on the 5th Caprice with ricochet bowing gives to a entirely different expression... a very different sound... Maybe this will inspire a new generation of violinists who will build on this technique on this piece while maintaining the rigorous demands of technical perfection in regards to intonation and control.

I personally, for one, am willing to accept the supposed "jaggedness" of Markov's playing for the sake of the expression. Afterall, it is Paganini...

Mr. Markov plays with great artistism not paying any regard to what's written in the music, and that's why this recording has no relation to the way Paganini's supposed to be played. This once again shows that a fast tempo doesnt make an impression if there are wrong notes and the listener has a feeling that the performer might crash in every measure. An overall uneveness in different techniques makes this performance extremely inconsistent.

Yes, nobody really knows how to play Paganini, however a violinist must at least try to recreate the intensions of the composers, hopefully together with an original interpretation. An original interpretation doesn't mean doing crazy rubatos, slower and faster,all over the place, like a car in a NY traffic jam, and it certainly does not mean playing half of the notes that are written, clearly and in tune. And sorry to disappoint the Music Fan from Illinois, but there are perfect recordings of Paganini 24 Caprices like those of Accardo and Pikayzen. Everybody could learn from Heifetz' recording of Paganini with piano. And if anybody reviews those CD's there won't be a need to discuss technical ability - a violinist who records professional CDs must already have that. All of the aforementioned violinists have an original interpretation that goes together with the score. So, before we can even talk about an interpretation in this CD (which will be very hard to find) Markov needs to clear up the wrong and out-of-tune notes - and there is an abundance of those.

Don't waste your time and money on it, cause according to the performer,it's a waste of his own time ro play well.

I do not want you to waste your money on this CD when there are others like the Perlman or Rabin recordings which are far superior.