The Whole Note, Jan. 2026

STRINGS ATTACHED
TERRY ROBBINS

Violinist Tomás Cotik describes his decision to record a selection of the Paganini 24 Caprices, Op.1 as a search for another challenge after recording solo violin music by Bach and Telemann. The result is his new CD Capriccio, a project that was clearly a labor of love (Centaur CRC 4130 tomascotik.com/album/paganini-capriccio).

Seventeen of the caprices are included – numbers 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 15 and 19 are omitted – and Cotik opens and closes the disc with two Paganini pieces for violin and piano: the Cantabile in D Major, Op.17 and the Sonata a Preghiera, Op.24 “Moses Fantasy,” the virtuosic set of variations on a theme from Rossini’s opera played entirely on the G string. Monica Ohuchi is the pianist.

Cotik’s playing is never flashy and always has a feeling of intelligent thoughtfulness. His booklet essay is, as usual, extensive and fascinating.