Composed 1819, pub. 1855; 9 minutes

Paganini, the charismatic violinist who revolutionized violin technique, was the first virtuoso to tour Europe, dazzling audiences wherever he appeared. A legend began to circulate that he was in league with the devil – and Paganini did nothing to discourage the rumor. As with much of his music, Paganini preferred to leave his virtuoso Introduction and Variations on the Prayer of Moses (Dal tuo stellato soglio) from Rossini’s opera Moses in Egypt unpublished – to prevent piracy and prolong the mystique. It first appeared in print 15 years after his death. Its noble, somewhat melancholy minor-key melody is repeated three times, then again in the major, before a short cadenza introduces a march-like variant of the theme. Three variations of increasing urgency and virtuosity follow before a rapid-fire finale. The 19^th-century piano virtuoso Sigismond Thalberg wrote a set of brilliant piano variations on the theme and cellist Paul Tortelier followed the lead of Paganini and others who played the Variations on just one string. 

Daguerreotype of Paganini, taken ca. 1840