Handel Halvorsen-Passacaglia

The Passacaglia by George Frideric Handel and Johan Halvorsen is a powerful and virtuosic duet originally written for violin and viola (or cello), based on a theme from Handel’s Harpsichord Suite in G minor. Halvorsen, a Norwegian composer, adapted the Baroque theme into a Romantic showpiece in 1893, adding layers of technical brilliance and dramatic interplay. The piece features a set of increasingly complex variations built on a repeating bass line, showcasing both instruments in a dazzling musical dialogue that bridges centuries of style.