Violinist Daniel Kurganov presents his latest video project: an HD restoration of Leonid Kogan performing Paganini Violin Concerto no.1.

The performance was filmed for Soviet TV in 1981, a year before Kogan’s death. Kurganov combined all the clips of Kogan playing the concerto from all of the episodes of the show. The footage has been restored and AI upscaled, and a high quality audio source was found, with correct pitch.

Kurganov says: ’There are a handful of incredibly inspiring (and inspired) renditions of Paganini, such as that of Rabin, Ferras, Hirschhorn, Roman Kim, Gitlis and others, but I still think Kogan is the all-time King of Paganini! ’

2024 marked the centenary of the Kogan’s birth. Check out our article on the matchless violinist in our November 2024 issue here.

Watch: Did AI just kill classical music? A video from violinist Daniel Kurganov

Read: Great violinists: Nicolò Paganini

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