Released to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Michael Rabin’s death on 19th January 1972, this collection brings together his finest recordings on EMI Classics in one comprehensive 6CD set.

Rabin was widely regarded as the finest virtuoso violinist of his generation and, despite dying at the young age of 36 after suffering with a neurological illness, his fame continues long after his death.

He was critically acclaimed for his performances and recordings of Paganini, and included in the set are Rabin’s two recorded versions of the Paganini Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major Op.6 from 1956 and 1960. He famously performed this work at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Dmitri Mitropolous at the age of 15 in November 1951. The full 24 Paganini Caprices for Solo Violin are also included in the set.

Displaying technical mastery with a maturity of interpretation that belied his years, Rabin’s bel canto playing style is shown in full force in this collection with excellent recordings of Bach, Wieniawski, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Debussy and Bruch.

This collection offers the listener a wonderful selection of violin repertoire with exquisite playing sure to delight any fan of the instrument.

Contents:
CD 1
Paganini: Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major Op.6
1. I. Allegro Maestoso
2. II. Adagio Espressivo
3. III. Rondo (Allegro Spiritoso)

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No.2 in D minor Op.22
4. Allegro moderato
5. Romance (Allegro non troppo)
6. Allegro con fuoco - Allegro moderato
7. Allegro moderato
8. Preghiera: Larghetto
9. Rondo (Allegro giocoso)

CD 2
Paganini: Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major Op.6
1. Allegro Maestoso (Cadenze: Flesch)
2. Adagio Espressivo
3. Rondo (Allegro Spiritoso)

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major Op.35
4. I. Allegro moderato
5. II. Canzonetta (Andante)
6. III. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)

CD 3
Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor Op.64
1. I. Allegro molto appassionato -
2. II. Andante
3. III. Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy Op.46
4. Einleitung (Grave) - 1.Satz: Adagio cantabile
5. 2. Satz: Allegro - Tanz - Animato - Adagio - Tempo I - Adagio
6. 3. Satz: Andante sostenuto - Piu animato
7. 4. Satz: Finale (Allegro guerriero - Un poco tranquillo - Tempo I - Adagio - Allegro)

Glazunov: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor Op.82
8. I. Moderato
9. II. Andante sostenuto
10. III. Allegro

CD 4
Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op.1

CD 5
J S Bach: Sonata No.3 in C for Unaccompanied Violin BWV 1005
1. I. Adagio
2. II. Fuga
3. III. Largo
4. IV. Allegro assai

Eugene Ysaye:
Sonata Op.27 No.4 in C minor for Solo Violin
5. I. Allemanda
6. II. Sarabande
7. III. Finale
8. Sonata in D minor Op.27 No.3 (Ballade in One Movement)

Henryk Wieniawski (arr. Kreisler)
9. Etude caprice en la mineur, Op.18 No.4

Debussy (arr. Roques)
10. La Plus Que Lente (Valse)

Maurice Ravel
11. Piece en Forme de Habanera
12. Tzigane

Jules Massenet
13. Meditation (from Thais)

Fritz Kreisler
14. Caprice Viennois Op.2

Camille Saint-Saens
15. Introduction and Rondo capriccioso in A minor Op.28

CD 6
Camille Saint-Saens
1. Havanaise in E Op.83
2. Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for Violin and Orchestra, Op.28

Pablo de Sarasate
3. Zapateado
4. Habañera
5. Zigeunerweisen, Op.20 No.1

Dinicu (arr. Heifetz)
6. Hora Staccato

Paganini (arr. Kreisler)
7. Moto perpetuo Op.11

Edward Elgar
8. La Capricieuse, Op.17

Brandl (arr. Kreisler)
9. Du alter Stephansturm (The Old Refrain)

Rimsky-Korsakov (arr. Heifetz)
The Tale of Tsar Saltan
10. The Flight of the Bumble-Bee

Chopin (arr. Wilhelm)
11. Nocturne No.8 in D flat, Op.27, No.2

Mompou (arr. Szigeti)
12. Jeune filles au jardin, No.5 "Scenes d'enfants"

Scriabin (arr. Szigeti)
13. Etude in D Flat, Op.8, No.10 (Etude in Thirds)

Engel (arr. Zimbalist)
14. Sea Shell

Prokofiev (arr. Heifetz)
15. March (from Love for Three Oranges)

Josef Suk
16. Burleska 4, from 4 Pieces, Op.17)