NICCOLÒ PAGANINI - Quartet for violin, viola, guitar and cello in A minor, Op. 4 no. 1, MS 28; Terzetto in D major for violin, guitar and cello, MS 69; Theme with Variations (according to Caprice Op. 1 No. 24)
RAINER BISCHOF - Guitar quartet
NICCOLÒ PAGANINI - Quartet for violin, viola, guitar and cello no. 9 in D major, MS 36
Niccolò Paganini first appears in the history of music as a violin star who had no analogues up to that point, who organized impressive tours all over Europe. Chopin listened to him in Warsaw, Liszt heard him play in Paris, and Schubert in Vienna, and everyone who heard Paganini was impressed by his talent, far beyond the capabilities of a human. There were rumors that he had sold his soul to a poor man for his genius, there were whispers that sparks flew when he was spinning, ladies swooned at his concerts, he became the symbol of a romantic hero. Paganini did not try to deny the rumors and continued to organize breathtaking recitals, in which he also performed his own works. Paganini composed not only for the violin, but also for various chamber ensembles, solos, duets, trios, quartets, violin, guitar, viola and cello - for the big stage and for home music. It is less well known that Paganini played the viola and guitar very well in addition to the violin.
Mario Hossen, Austrian violinist and conductor of Bulgarian origin, is the founder of the Paganini Ensemble Vienna, a well-known performer and researcher of Paganini's work, who has gained international recognition. At the age of seventeen, he performed all 24 Paganini caprices, in addition to this composer's music, M. Hossen plays a lot of works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch. He was born in 1749. G. B. Guadagnini on violin and appears with such orchestras as Wiener Symphoniker, Wiener Kammerorchester, Bruckner, English chamber, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Orchestra della Scala di Milano and others.
M. Hossen's colleagues - violist Marta Potulska, cellist Liliana Kehayova and guitarist Alexader Swete - are laureates of many international competitions, soloists who perform intensively around the world, and members of famous Austrian musical groups.
Musicologist Danilo Prefumo: The Paganini Ensemble Vienna has set itself the lofty goal of presenting this rarely played program, which provides a unique insight into Paganini's work for violin, guitar, viola and cello. These works are not only virtuosic, they are full of moments of great passion, tenderness, suffering and joy."
