Researcher Andrew O. Krastins has discovered 16 wax-cylinder recordings believed to be of Camillo Sivori, the only known student of violinist Niccolò Paganini, which could provide unprecedented insight into the musical practices of the early 19th Century. The recordings, held by the British Library and previously misattributed, include a lost work by Sivori and compositions by Paganini.
Why it matters:
- A link to the past: These recordings, if verified as Sivori’s, would be the earliest known recordings of a violinist, offering a direct link to the sound and techniques taught by Paganini, one of history’s greatest violin virtuosos.
- Historic score: The discovery includes a previously lost work by Sivori, enriching the historical repertoire and providing new material for study and performance in the classical music world.
