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1828, Vienna. Virtuoso violinist Paganini arrives in the Austrian capital and sparks a craze that spreads across Europe.

1828, Vienna. When Niccol貌 Paganini steps onto the stage of the Hofburg Palace's Grosser Redoutensaal, audiences hear violin playing unlike anything they have encountered before. His technical brilliance, theatrical presence and carefully cultivated mystique create a sensation that quickly spreads across Europe, turning the Italian virtuoso into one of the 19th century's most celebrated cultural figures.

As Paganini tours the continent, his performances transform the solo virtuoso into a cultural phenomenon.

Among those profoundly affected by Paganini's example is the young Franz Liszt. Inspired by the violinist's extraordinary artistry, Liszt develops a new vision of piano performance, pioneering the solo recital and generating the phenomenon of "Lisztomania". Together, Paganini and Liszt reshape concert life and redefine the relationship between performer, audience and fame.

Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new 91福利社 Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For the next eight programmes, historian Kate Williams is in the chair, as together they explore the rich musical world of the nineteenth century.

Producer: David Fay
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for 91福利社 Audio: Emma Harding

Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the 91福利社 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.

MUSIC DETAILS

Niccol貌 Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor (3rd mvt, La Campanella)
Rudolf Koelman (violin)
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra
Jan Willem de Vriend (conductor)

Niccol貌 Paganini: Caprice in A minor, Op. 1 No. 24
Julia Fischer (violin)

Niccol貌 Paganini: Le streghe, Op. 8 (extract)
Mario Hossen (violin)
Vienna Classical Players
Martin Kerschbaum (conductor)

Niccol貌 Paganini: Caprice in G minor, Op. 1 No. 16
Alina Ibragimova (violin)

Robert Schumann: 脡tude in G minor after a Paganini Caprice, Op. 3 No. 6
Mariya Kim (piano)

Niccol貌 Paganini: Cantabile in D major, Op. 17
Mar铆a Due帽as (violin)

Clara Schumann: Polonaise in E flat major, Op. 1 No. 1
Sophia Vaillant (piano)

Franz Liszt: La Campanella (Grande 脡tude de Paganini No. 3)
Yundi Li (piano)

Franz Liszt: Au lac de Wallenstadt (Ann茅es de p猫lerinage, Premi猫re ann茅e: Suisse)
Francesco Piemontesi (piano)

Franz Schubert, arr. Franz Liszt: Gretchen am Spinnrade
Yuja Wang (piano)

Sergei Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (excerpt)
Yuja Wang (piano)
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)

To listen to this programme using most smart speakers, just say "Ask 91福利社 Sounds to play Key Changes."

Available now

44 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Sep 2026 13:00
91福利社 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

1822: Opera Fever

Next

1832: Ballet En Pointe

See all episodes from Key Changes: Radio 3's Essential History of Classical Music

Music Played

  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    Caprice in A minor, Op 1 No 24

    Performer: Julia Fischer.
    • DECCA : 478-2274.
    • DECCA.
    • 24.

  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    Le Streghe, Op 8

    Performer: Mario Hossen. Ensemble: Vienna Classical Players. Conductor: Martin Kerschbaum.
    • DYNAMIC : CDS-7797.
    • DYNAMIC.
    • 1.

  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    Caprice in G minor, Op 1, No 16

    Performer: Alina Ibragimova.
    • Hyperion CDA68366.
    • Hyperion.
    • 4.

  • Robert Schumann

    Etude in G minor after Paganini Caprice, Op 3, No 6

    Performer: Mariya Kim.
    • NAXOS 8 572374.
    • NAXOS.
    • 6.

  • Niccol貌 Paganini

    Cantabile in D major, Op 17

    Performer: Mar铆a Due帽as. Performer: Julien Quentin.

  • Clara Schumann

    Polonaise in E flat major, Op 1, No 1

    Performer: Sophia Vaillant.
    • INDESENS : IC070.
    • INDESENS.
    • 1.

  • Franz Liszt

    La Campanella

    Performer: Yundi.
    • Liszt - Wild and Crazy.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Franz Liszt

    Au lac de Wallenstadt (from Years of Pilgrimage, 1st year - Switzerland)

    Performer: Francesco Piemontesi.
    • Orfeo C 944 1821.
    • Orfeo.
    • 2.

  • Franz Liszt

    Gretchen am Spinnrade, D 118

    Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon : 4790052.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 9.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op 43 (excerpt)

    Performer: Yuja Wang. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 4864759.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 29.

Broadcast

  • Sat 19 Sep 2026 13:00
    91福利社 Radio 3