There is hardly a violinist who has not dealt with some or even all 42 'Kreutzer etudes' sometime or other: Études ou caprices form part of the standard repertoire. Rodolphe Kreutzer (1766-1831) has not least remained unforgotten because of Beethoven's violin sonata of the same name - a work which had never been played by the violin virtuoso himself and not even been appreciated by him. His lightning career as a violinist led him into Napoleon's private orchestra and as a virtuoso across Europe ...