Camillo Sivori (1815-94) was celebrated as Paganini’s only pupil; in fact, the period of tuition was quite short and Sivori had other teachers. But, as an interpreter of Paganini’s music, he did perpetuate the great virtuoso’s name and also, as a composer, continued his style of virtuosity. The virtuoso element is strongest in Fiori di Napoli, a medley of popular tunes, and in the two sets of variations. The variations on ‘Nel cor più non mi sento’ are based on the theme by Paisiello used by Paganini for his famous set but are otherwise an independent composition.

Mauro Tortorelli has a dashing way with the more showy music and, barring just one or two uncomfortable moments of tuning, gives entirely convincing accounts of Sivori’s spectacular tricks. He understands, too, that the music in cantabile style needs to sound graceful and not excessively intense. But I wish he’d been bolder in his approach to Sivori’s elegant, decorative melodies and attempted a real imitation of 19th-century bel canto, in particular the way the singers of the time employed a variety of portamento effects. Played like this, I can imagine that the melodic writing in the Rêverie and the two Romanzas would sound truly enthralling and touching; Tortorelli’s plainer interpretations emphasise instead the music’s more conventional side. Angela Meluso proves herself an excellent accompanist – lively and responsive – and makes the most of her opportunity to shine in the Lucia Variations.