Paganini, Violin Concerto No 4

None of Niccolo Paganini's six violin concertos was published during his lifetime. The famous violinist and composer from Verona used to take care of the orchestral parts zealously, to the point of providing the scores to the orchestra on the same day of the rehearsal. At the end of the session, he would carefully remove them, one by one, to deliver them again on the performance's day, when he would repeat the maneuver, and then take them with him. This attitude did not help much in the diffusion of his work, of course, but it happens that in a world with author's rights in its infancy, it was necessary to take care of the material that allowed him to live.

Living a good life
Paganini, actually, made a good living from his work. At a very young age, he left his father's home to launch out on his own as a virtuoso violinist. Soon his fame and talent allowed him to travel all over Europe, with public appearances that were eagerly awaited and attended with delirious enthusiasm, worthy of any rock star of our times. Besides the myth of the pact with the devil, it was also said that inside his instrument he had hidden the spirit of some trapped maidens who would sing for him.

Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840)

Violin Concertos 
According to today's scholars, it was a virtuosity lacking in content. That is why few of his works are performed today. And of his six violin concertos, it has been said that it is only one with some variations. A bit overstated, but there is some truth in it, for it was impossible for the master with a busy schedule to come up with something completely new every time. Besides, "his audience" enthusiastically attended his concerts to hear the great virtuoso of the time working wonders with the instrument, not necessarily to hear works at first hearing.

Violin Concerto No. 4
And of course, for those familiar with Violin Concerto No. 1, the similarities that Violin Concerto No. 4 has with it are obvious (and also with No. 2). But as has already been said, Paganini lived off his audience. He knew what they liked, and he acted accordingly.

The work was composed during a tour of Germany between 1829 and 1830 after the triumphant debut he had achieved in Vienna in 1828 with the three previous concertos.

Movements

00        Allegro maestoso  -  The orchestra exposes the main themes, as usual. At minute 3:32 the solo violin makes its appearance.

17:23  Adagio flebile con sentiment  - Lyrical and light (flebile), with an overtly Italian character.

24:13  Rondo galante - Andantino gaio   -  At 32:06, the rondo gives way to a joyful andantino (gaio). Brilliant ending.

The version (audio only) is by Italian maestro Salvatore Accardo and The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit.