NICCOLÒ PAGANINI

Following her acclaimed DG debut album Beethoven and Beyond, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas has chosen to play Nicolò Paganini’s iconic 24 Caprices for her upcoming second album. She couples the pieces, which are known as one of the hardest works that have ever been written for violin, with a selection of later works inspired by Paganini, presenting music by composers ranging from Berlioz and Kreisler to Gabriela Ortiz. 

“Paganini’s 24 Caprices are a milestone for every violinist,” explains Dueñas, when asked about her choice of repertoire. “I grew up listening to and performing them, and when we hear the word ‘caprice’ we instantly think of Paganini, but there are so many other caprices, from Saint-Saëns’s Rondo capriccioso to works by contemporary composers like Cervelló, for example. I really wanted to show how a lot of little moments from the musical world all come together.” 

Listen to a first pre-release track, a moving rendition of Kreisler’s Caprice viennois, Op. 2, for which Dueñas is accompanied by guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre. The full album will be released digitally, on vinyl and CD on 14 February 2025.