Niccolò Paganini

Niccolò Paganini, (Genoa, October 27, 1782 – May 27, 1840 in Nice) was a violinist, violist, guitarist and composer. He is one of the most famous violin virtuosi, and is considered one of the greatest violinists who ever lived, with perfect intonation and innovative techniques. His influence in violin music, and the musical world in general was unequalled.

Life of Paganini

Niccolò Paganini was born in Genoa, Italy on 27 October, 1782, to Antonio and Teresa (née Bocciardo) Paganini. According to his biographer, Peter Lichtenthal, Paganini first learnt to play the mandolin (from his father) at the age of five, and quickly moved to the violin by the age of seven, and began composing before he turned eight. He gave his first public concert at the age of 12. In his early teens he studied under various teachers, including Giovanni Servetto and Alessandro Rolla, but he could not cope well with his success: at the age of 16 he was gambling and drinking. His career was saved by an unknown lady, who took him to her estate where he recovered and studied the violin for three years. He also played the guitar in his temporary retirement, and his intimate violin/guitar sonatas and guitar string quartets offer a side of Paganini that is easily overlooked.

Related Topics:
Genoa - Italy - Peter Lichtenthal - Giovanni Servetto - Alessandro Rolla - Gambling - Estate - Sonatas - String quartet

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He reappeared when he was 23, becoming director of music to Napoleon's sister Elisa Baciocchi, Princess of Lucca, when he wasn't touring. He soon became a legend for his unparalleled mastery of the violin, with a debut in Milan in 1813, Vienna 1828, and both London and Paris in 1831. Paganini was one of the first superstars of public concertizing. As he became more and more famous, it was rumored that he acquired his incredible virtuosity in a pact with the Devil. His eyes would roll into the back of his head while playing, revealing the whites. His swaying stance, long unruly hair and thin, gaunt stature only added to this rumor. He played so intensely, women would faint and men would break out weeping. The instrument on which he played is known as the Cannone Guarnerius violin.

Related Topics:
Napoleon - Elisa Baciocchi - Milan - 1813 - Vienna - 1828 - London - Paris - 1831 - Cannone Guarnerius

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Cancer of the larynx was beginning to take its toll, and he died in Nice on the 27th May, 1840, leaving behind a series of sonatas, caprices and 6 violin concertos.

Related Topics:
Cancer of the larynx - Nice - Sonatas - Caprice - Violin concerto

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In Paris in 1833, he commissioned a viola concerto from Hector Berlioz, who produced Harold in Italy for him, but Paganini never played it.

Related Topics:
1833 - Viola concerto - Hector Berlioz - Harold in Italy

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The orchestral parts of Paganini's works are polite, unadventurous in scoring, and supportive. Critics of Paganini find his concerti long-winded and formulaic: one fast rondo finale could often be switched for another. During his public career, the violin parts of the concertos were kept secret. Paganini would rehearse his orchestra without ever playing the full violin solos. At his death, only two had been published. Paganini's heirs have cannily released his concertos one at a time, each given their second debut, over many years, at well-spaced intervals. There are now six Paganini violin concerti; the last two are missing their orchestral parts.

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Paganini developed the set of concert variations for solo violin, characteristically taking a simple, apparently naïve theme, and alternating lyrical variations with a ruminative, improvisatory character that depended for effect on the warmth of his phrasing, with bravura extravagances that left his audiences gasping. It should be noted that there are no definite portraits of Paganini. All existing pictures may or may not be how Paganini really looked.

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