Of Paganini's solo violin works, the Caprices (24) are the most celebrated, and justly so, for this clever compendium of violin techniques is also a fantastic musical achievement on a high level. If any work demonstrates the fecundity of Paganini's imagination, his innovations and prowess, and the full range of his expression, this collection of daunting virtuoso pieces is it.
Stefan Milenkovich, a maturing artist with phenomenal abilities, approaches the Caprices with skill and sensitivity, and produces a graceful and energetic rendition with great continuity and melodic flow. Other violinists may break continuity by pausing over difficulties, but
Milenkovich's playing is practically seamless, as if multistops, chromatic runs, arpeggios, left-hand pizzicati, and octaves are nothing extraordinary to him. His intonation is rarely off, and the occasional scratchiness of his sound is forgivable in light of the impressiveness of his bowing effects and controlled articulation. The rest of the pieces on this double disc may be taken or left. The Sonata and the Tema variato have sufficient substance to rank as important works, but the remaining pieces are trifles, which
Milenkovich plays well but with somewhat less concentration than in the Caprices. Dynamic's engineering serves
Milenkovich well, and the resonant acoustic helps diminish the resinous coarseness of the exposed violin sound.