The Polish violinist Henryk Wieniawski began his career as a virtuoso in earnest in 1851. His compositions were principally for his own use and include two important violin concertos as well as a number of virtuoso pieces designed to display his technical and lyrical musical accomplishments. Starting with a flourish, the Souvenir de Moscou allows the violin an exhibition of virtuosity, before the lyrical melody at the heart of the piece is heard. Le carnaval russe allows the violinist-composer to exploit relatively simple thematic material with all the technical virtuosity at his command, including astonishing feats of left-hand pizzicato and the favourite contemporary virtuoso device of accompanying a melody on one string with a tremolo on the string below.