Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Paganini Op.35

On this recital Joseph Moog explores Paganini's Caprices, which have exerted a mesmeric attraction for composers since their publication in 1820. Schumann's two sets of Etudes were the result of hearing Paganini play in Frankfurt in April 1830. These early compositions are comparatively rare in performance. Brahms, also fascinated by Paganini, composed his Variations on a theme by Paganini for the great virtuoso pianist Karl Tausig. Brahms takes the 24th Caprice and turns his Studies for Pianoforte: Variations on a theme by Paganini into a tour de force. Tausig loved them, writing to Brahms "I had a devil of a time with them... everyone considers them unplayable."