Paganini’s Magic

Watch Dan Zhu’s encore performance on Niccolò Paganini’s “Nel cor più non mi sento” from his latest concert tour.

From opera to four strings: Niccolò Paganini’s “Nel cor più non mi sento” introduction, theme and variations, was among one of the composer’s favourite pieces featured in his concert tours. This highly virtuosic oeuvre for solo violin was completed in Naples on November 23, 1821. The theme used in the composition is drawn from the popular aria “Nel cor più non mi sento”, from the opera La molinara by Giovanni Paisiello. The opera was first performed in Naples in 1788 under the title L’amor contrastato, and later revived in Venice in 1798 under its more familiar title. It was also met with considerable success in German-speaking regions, where it was known as Die schöne Müllerin. In that version, the aria appeared under the title “Mich fliehen alle Freuden.” As in many of Paganini’s compositions, the variations exhibit limited melodic or thematic development, instead functioning primarily as vehicles for the virtuosity of the performer. Each variation highlights specific technical demands, including left-hand pizzicato, harmonics, and double-stop tremolos, etc. Now available to watch