William Primrose Plays Paganini Caprice 24

I know this is already up, but this has much nicer sound quality (and if you type &fmt=18 at the end of the video url it will not only increase the sound quality, but synchronize the video with the audio). This is an extraordinary display of virtuosity on the highly under-appreciated viola. Although the interpretation is not as nice as in his recording, the sheer technique is amazing. His renditions of some of the Paganini caprices make a lot of violin renditions seem unimpressive.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• William
• Primrose
• viola
• violin
• Heifetz
• virtuoso
• Niccolo
• Paganini
• Caprice
• 24
• XXV
• Oistrakh
• Milstein
• 24th
• string
• quartet

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

After rewatching this video for the first time in ages, I realized that Primrose is probably improvising some of his inflections and nuances in this performance. Like that last note at 2:01, there's no way he practiced playing it that way. If he did then I'd be shocked, but if he didn't then I suppose it's his way of being capricious

[EldoKim]

In response to @AbsoluteZ3ro and @physphilmusic... TL; DR.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@EldoKim Congratulations for letting everyone who views this video know that you have a poor attention span.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@cadence911 I'm not sure how experienced you are at either instrument, but if you were to professionally study both you would find that viola is more difficult. It's not a matter of opinion when there are physical explanations as to why viola is more difficult. If you compare the skill levels of players who are equally experienced at either instrument, the violist will have far less technical facility than the violinist. Try playing a virtuosic violin concerto or etude on viola, it's much harder

[violonistchris]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 you re so right i play both and viola is harder than the violin ....!

[epessina]

GREAT !!!!! thanks

[ensignlilyjavert]

I just realised that around 2:07, he's plucking half the notes. -bows down and worships viola Jesus-

[Lightflaredragon]

Wow, he has one amazing pinky!

[classicgirl05]

To the 'lack of expression' folks: it's a Paganini Caprice guys, it's essentially an etude, just like Rhode, Kreutzer and Campangoli...can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Just sayin'

[stringscgda]

I haven't heard anyone do pizzicato better than primrose :) That's better than Heifetz :)

[christianhosch]

@HowAboutSomeTruth1 BOOOOOO! Violins are for suckers and cellos burn too long... So HA!!!

[NetRunner88]

Primerose in the beginning was violinist, than in early 900 he decided to build up viola school. wen hebrought for the first time a viola in a violin competition, he played paganini and bach viola transcription. in the end of him performance, commision was a bit angry and laughind; they told him: next time what you will do? put also the E string on viola?

that day Primrose and Tertis started to work on creating viola school.