La Campanella - Paganini (arr. Kreisler) for Violin and Piano｜Eimi Wakui

La Campanella (“The Little Bell”) is a celebrated melody by the 19th-century Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840). Renowned for his extraordinary virtuosity, Paganini was often called “the Devil’s violinist,” and he played a pivotal role in expanding the expressive and technical possibilities of the violin.
This piece originates from the final movement of Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7. The title La Campanella refers to a small bell, and its shimmering, high-register motif evokes the delicate ringing of bells, creating an atmosphere that is both playful and dreamlike, inviting the listener into a miniature musical tale.

In this performance, I play the version arranged by the great violinist Fritz Kreisler. Kreisler transformed the concerto’s final movement into an independent violin work, preserving Paganini’s dazzling brilliance while reshaping it with elegance, warmth, and lyrical charm—hallmarks of his unique musical voice.
Many listeners may know this music through the famous piano transcription by Franz Liszt, which has become iconic in the piano repertoire. In Kreisler’s version, however, the violin’s natural singing quality and luminous tone come to the forefront, allowing not only virtuosity but also grace, color, and a sense of play to shine.

The music weaves together delicate control in the high register, buoyant leaps, brilliant passages, and flowing virtuosity, creating moments that feel almost magical. While the technical sparkle is unmistakable, it is the way each phrase speaks and dances that gives La Campanella its enduring charm.
In this performance, I aim to blend Paganini’s dazzling imagination with Kreisler’s refined musical sensibility, letting the violin speak, smile, and shimmer like the sound of a distant bell. Please enjoy this journey into the enchanting world of La Campanella, where light, elegance, and playfulness come together.

🎹 Piano: Shogo Tsukada
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