Niccolò Paganini was not only a legendary violin virtuoso – he was also a passionate guitarist, chamber musician and composer of unforgettable melodies. This programme sheds light on a lesser-known but fascinating aspect of his oeuvre, bringing together his String Quartet in A minor, Guitar Quartet No. 15, and Boccherini’s sparkling Fandango Guitar Quintet, as well as arrangements of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 and La Campanella for guitar and string quartet.
Carlotta Dalia & Goldmund Quartet
Guitar & String Quartet
Concept
What makes this project truly unique are the instruments: the Goldmund Quartet plays the famous Stradivari ‘Paganini’ quartet, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation, whilst Carlotta Dalia plays an Ory-Koelliker guitar (Paris, 1797) associated with Paganini. History brought to life through sound.
The recording will be released by Berlin Classics on 11 September 2026.
Programme
Niccolò Paganini: String Quartet in A minor, MS 20 No. 3
Niccolò Paganini: Guitar Quartet No. 15 in A minor, MS 42
Luigi Boccherini: Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D major, G. 448 “Fandango”
Niccolò Paganini: Caprice No. 24
Niccolò Paganini: La Campanella
Cast
Carlotta Dalia
Carlotta Dalia's playing represents the excellence of the Italian tradition – which is at the highest level – and she is on the verge of becoming a world leader in the art of the guitar. Maestro Angelo Gilardino, Suonare News
Goldmund Quartett
he Goldmund Quartet – Florian Schötz (violin), Pinchas Adt (violin), Christoph Vandory (viola), and Raphael Paratore (cello) – is known to feature “exquisite playing” and “such multi-layered homogeneity” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) in its interpretations of the great classical and modern works of the quartet literature. Its inwardness, the unbelievably fine intonation and the phrases worked out down to the smallest detail inspire audiences worldwide.
As evident from their 2024/25 season calendar, the Quartet is now counted amongst the leading string quartets of the younger generation worldwide. Highlights include another substantial tour of the US taking in Montréal, Indianapolis and Memphis and a tour of Japan on the occasion of the Nippon Music Foundation’s 50th anniversary at Suntory Hall with Ray Chen, Camille Thomas, Maria Dueñas and as soloists with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble will debut at prestigious festivals such as Schubertiade Hohenems and HarzClassixFestival, appear on Cyprus and in Split, at Teatro Liceu de Salamanca and in Florence in the renowned series of the Amici della Musica Firenze. Returns will lead them to the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Oraniensteiner Konzerte and the Bodensee Festival. The Goldmund Quartet presents their own chamber music festival at Kloster Irsee in May 2025. Additionally, the Goldmund Academy will be held for the very first time offering guidance for young string quartets and providing a platform for emerging talent.
Winners of the 2018 International Wigmore Hall String Competition and the 2018 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, the Quartet was named Rising Stars by the European Concert Hall Organisation for 2019/20. Since 2019, they have been performing Antonio Stradivari's Paganini Quartet, provided by the Sasakawa Music Foundation (formerly the Nippon Music Foundation). In addition, the Quartet was awarded the Jürgen Ponto Foundation Music Prize in March 2020 and the Freiherr von Waltershausen Prize in December 2020. In 2016, the Quartet won the Bavarian Arts Promotion and the ARD Competition’s Karl Klinger prizes.
Video
Gaetano Donizett: Te voglio bene assaje
Niccolò Paganini: Guitar Quartet No. 15 in A minor, MS 42 (4th movement) | Carlotta Dalia & Goldmund Quartet
