Description

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908) is recognized as one of the foremost violin virtuosos of the latter half of the 19th century, achieving lasting fame through his technically demanding and emotionally charged compositions. His concert repertoire primarily featured his own works, although he also performed pieces specifically composed for him by contemporaries, such as Lalo's 'Symphonie espagnole', Bruch's 'Scottish Fantasia', and various violin compositions by Saint-Saëns and Wieniawski. In his 'Caprice Basque' (Capricho vasco) Op. 24, Sarasate incorporated elements of Spanish folk music, dedicating the piece to Otto Goldschmidt, a composer and pianist who studied under Mendelssohn. This composition showcases the distinctive dotted rhythm of the 'zortzico', a lively Basque dance in 5/8 time, making it a vibrant and exhilarating work for skilled performers.