In 1939 a Michael Fokine ballet, based on this A-minor music, premiered at Covent Garden.
In 1939 a Michael Fokine ballet, based on this A-minor music, premiered at Covent Garden. Following the composition of this work, the composer's late output experimented with various instrumental tones, such as that of the alto saxophone in a set of Symphonic Dances. The finale of Beethoven's third inspired the composer to delay the introduction of the work's theme until after introducing only the bass line in its first variation. In the best known variation, Andante Cantabile, the composer inverts the theme before rehashing the Dies Irae in the next variation. That late variation was written to mimic its namesake's left hand pizzicato. For 10 points-- what is this set of 24 variations based on the final violin caprice of its namesake, a work by Sergei Rachmaninoff?
In 1939 a Michael Fokine ballet, based on this A-minor music, premiered at Covent Garden.
{Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini}