Building a Library

Claire Jackson on Rachmaninov’s Paganini Rhapsody; plus what to explore next

Sparkling piano virtuosity and lush orchestral Romanticism have made Rachmaninov’s Paganini-inspired variations a perennial favourite. Claire Jackson selects the best recordings

Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – often referred to as the ‘Paganini Variations’ or ‘Paganini Rhapsody’ – is a work for piano and orchestra that sees the composer at his most playful. The variations were written in 1934 at Rachmaninov’s villa near Lucerne. The theme comes from the last of Paganini’s 24 Caprices, Op. 1 for solo violin, a collection that had already inspired Liszt, Schumann and Brahms. Rachmaninov’s variations can be grouped to form three movements (1-10; 11-18; 19-24), although they are often performed with no breaks. The lush Variation 18 could have a Building a Library to itself: the piece is a regular in film soundtracks and compilation albums, including countless Romantic collections… The work, however, is more than the sum of its considerable parts and is best enjoyed in its entirety.