Bazzini – Virtuoso Works for Violin and Piano
Bazzini:
- Calabrese, Op. 34, No. 6
- Trois morceaux lyriques, Op. 41
- Le Carillon d’Arras, Op. 36
- Deux morceaux de salon, Op. 12
- Deux grandes études, Op. 49
- Trois morceaux en forme de sonate, Op. 44
- La Ronde des lutins, Op. 25
Performed by Chloë Hanslip (violin) & Caspar Frantz (piano)
Antonio Bazzini, born in Brescia, Italy in 1818, was one of the great violinist-composers of the 19th century. After meeting Paganini in 1836, he lived the life of a touring virtuoso for many years. Eventually returning to Italy, he was appointed first professor and then director of the Milan Conservatory and was a teacher of Mascagni and Puccini.
Bazzzini is best remembered as the composer of numerous show pieces for violin and piano, the most famous being “La Ronde des lutins” (The Dance of the Goblins). This piece is extremely hard to play and frequently played as a concert encore.
Chloë Hanslip is a terrific violinist. You will notice that her playing, even when flying up and down the strings at devilish speeds like in the “Ronde des Lutins”, is a delight to listen to from start to finish, always full of playfulness when called for, and deep melancholy feeling when needed.
Here is what was written about Ms. Hanslip in the BBC Music Magazine, October 2008:
“The familiar piece here is the Ronde des lutins, a much-recorded Perpetuum Mobile, whose showy style of writing informs a great deal of the music, alternating with a line in sentimental melodies. Chloë Hanslip responds to both sides of Bazzini, and she’s always rhythmically alert, whether in the rubato in the slower pieces, or the control of the cascades of notes in the faster ones.”
And now for some music:
First, Chloë Hanslip plays Bazzini – La Ronde des Lutins, Op. 25 (Dance of the Goblins)
And here’s an interview with Ms. Hanslip:
Tags: Chloe Hanslip, violinist, Bazzini, La Ronde des Lutins