- Written in 1818 (the same year Rossini premiered the opera), Paganini’s Introduction and Variations from Rossini’s opera, “Moses in Egypt” for violin and orchestra cites the contemplative aria, “Dal tuo stellato soglio” (From your starry throne), for its theme.
- The piece is also sometimes labeled as Fantasia on a theme from Rossini’s opera, “Moses in Egypt” or Mosè Fantasia.1
- “Dal tuo stellato soglio” is a prayer sung by Moses and the Israelites at the banks of the Red Sea during the Exodus from Egypt.
- Paganini’s Introduction and Variations requires the violinist to perform the piece on one string only (G-string on violin; A-string in cello version).
- One of Paganini’s acts of showmanship was purposely breaking strings on his instrument so that, by the end of the concert, he would only be able to perform on a single string.2
Sources
- “Mosè-fantasia, MS 23 (Paganini, Niccolò),” IMSLP, accessed November 17, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Mos%C3%A8-fantasia%2C_MS_23_(Paganini%2C_Niccol%C3%B2).
- Tomás Cotik, “Paganini’s Mosè Fantasy: bel canto and virtuosity on only one string,” The Strad (2025), accessed November 17, 2025, https://www.thestrad.com/playing-hub/paganinis-mose-fantasy-bel-canto-and-virtuosity-on-only-one-string/20374.article.
Cut IDs
41417 48901 21977 27602 24339