In 2011, the International Violin Competition 'Henri Marteau' for the first time commissioned a composer to write the compulsory piece for the competition. This composer was Fazil Say who forms a meanwhile legendary duo with the violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaya. In 'Cleopatra' for solo violin, Say deals with Henri Marteau's Caprice No. 10, 'Intermezzo', as an homage to him. The result is a violinistically demanding piece which makes use of the modern playing techniques of the violin and at the same time includes Arabian sounds in varied rhythmic patterns.