LE VIOLONISTE DU DIABLE

Il Genio di Niccolò Paganini
N. Paganini, Sonata n. 1 in la magg. dal Centone di sonate
   Variazioni in la magg. (op. post.)
   Allegro vivace a movimento perpetuo op. 11
   Sonata MS 84 n. 24
   Capriccio n. 24 in la min.
   Concerto n. 6 in mi min.

The violinist Dmitry Smirnov is a man of many talents, covering a vast range of types and forms, including solo pieces, chamber music, old classics and contemporary items. 
His talents were acknowledged with the first prize and public appreciation award at the 2015 Tibor Varga competition, and second prize in the ARD Musikwettbewerb in 2021. He is well known as a soloist and has performed with prestigious international orchestras. He played two memorable Vivaldi items at Stresa Festival last year, together with Il Giardino Armonico conducted by Giovanni Antonini. Luca Pianca, a co-founder of Il Giardino Armonico, is widely appreciated as a lutist and guitar-player: he is known world-wide as a conductor and also for his solo interpretations of Bach and Vivaldi’s full works for lute.
Today’s program is centered on Niccolò Paganini, and contains various compositions as well as a transcription by the composer of the Concerto no. 6 in E minor for violin and orchestra. The difficulties for performers in Paganini’s works highlight the abilities of the duo this evening, which promises to be very intense.