ヴァイオリン協奏曲第1番 ニ長調

パガニーニの演奏があまりにすごいので、「悪魔に魂を売ってあの技を手に入れた」といううわさが広まりました。やせた体に黒い服、青白い顔という見た目も、うわさを大きくしたと言われています。もちろん、これは根拠のない伝説です。

Paganini played so amazingly that a rumor spread that he had sold his soul to the devil for his skill. His thin body, black clothes and pale face are said to have made the rumor grow. Of course, it was only a legend with no truth behind it.

パガニーニは、ほかの人に曲をぬすまれないよう、オーケストラのパート譜をリハーサルのときだけ配り、終わるとすぐに回収したと伝えられています。ソロの楽譜も人に見せなかったため、彼の協奏曲の多くは、死後になってようやく楽譜が出版されました。

It is said that Paganini handed out the orchestra parts only at rehearsals and collected them right afterward, so no one could steal his music. He did not show anyone the solo part either, so the scores of most of his concertos were not published until after his death.

パガニーニとロッシーニは親しい友人で、ローマのカーニバルでいっしょに女性の仮装をして町を練り歩いた、という楽しい話も伝わっています。この協奏曲の、オペラのように歌うメロディにも、ロッシーニの影響が感じられると言われます。

Paganini and Rossini were good friends. There is even a fun story that they once dressed up as women and walked through the streets together during the carnival in Rome. People also say that Rossini's influence can be heard in this concerto's opera-like melodies.

パガニーニは演奏会で、弦が切れても残りの弦だけで弾き続けたり、いちばん低いG線1本だけで曲を弾いたりして、聴衆をおどろかせたと言われています。この協奏曲にも、そんなショーマンらしい見せ場がたっぷりつまっています。

Paganini is said to have amazed audiences by carrying on with the remaining strings when one broke, and by playing whole pieces on the lowest G string alone. This concerto is also packed with the kind of show-stopping moments you would expect from such a showman.