Composer

Niccolò Paganini

1782 — 1840

About

Concerts and Operas

Waldbühne 2002: World Encores – with Vadim Repin & Mariss Jansons

Waldbühne 2002

Concert92 Min

Albums

Paganini: 24 Caprices

Alina Ibragimova

Paganini: 24 Caprices

Julia Fischer

Paganini: 24 Capricci, Op. 1

Thomas Zehetmair

Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin

Tanja Becker-Bender

Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 3

Henryk Szeryng, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson

Paganini: Caprices for Violin, Op. 24

David Garrett, Bruno Canino

Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 6

New York Philharmonic , Giuseppe Sinopoli

Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 4

Henryk Szeryng, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson

Appears On

Paganini: 24 Caprices — Caprices by Berlioz, Cervelló, Kreisler, Ortiz, Saint-Saëns, Sarasate, Wieniawski

María Dueñas

ICONIC

David Garrett, Orchestra the Prezent, Franck van der Heijden

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 / Rossini: Overture From "Semiramide" / Paganini: Moto perpetuo, Op.11

Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa

Janoska Style

Janoska Ensemble

Paganini / Spohr: Violin Concertos incld. Listening Guide

Hilary Hahn, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eije Oue

Short Videos

FREE

Paganini: 24 Caprices No. 24 in A Minor

María Dueñas

Short8 Min

FREE

Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, MS 25: No. 9 in E Major "La chasse". Allegretto

María Dueñas

Short4 Min

About

Niccolò Paganini

Nicolò Paganini was born in a poor family in Genoa in 1782 and was five years old when he took up the mandolin. Two years later, he transferred his allegiance to the violin and in 1795 left for Parma, where the violin virtuoso Alessandro Rolla protested that there was nothing more that he could teach the boy. Instead, he sent him to have composition lessons with Ferdinando Paer. On his return to Genoa in 1796, he discovered a copy. of Locatelli's L'arte del violino of 1733, a volume that contained 24 caprices for solo violin and that was to have a determining impact upon his future development. After an unproductive period spent in Lucca from 1801 to 1809, Paganini set out on his career as. a freelance virtuoso, touring Italy and enjoying immense acclaim. For his brilliant début at La Scala in 1813, he wrote Le streghe, which, together with his 24 Caprices, was to serve as his calling-card at many of his later concerts. Musicians, composer, critics and impresarios all flocked to his concerts and were duly dazzled by his mesmerizing showmanship. In 1828, he turned his attention north of the Alps and set out to conquer the capitals of Europe. His death in Nice in 1840 marked the end of the greatest violin virtuoso in history.

The Enthralling Life and Works of Niccolò Paganini: From Humble Beginnings to Musical Stardom

Niccolò Paganini, born in 1782 to an impoverished family in Genoa, found his calling at a tender age of five in the form of the mandolin. By the age of seven, he had switched his focus to the violin, setting him off on a journey to becoming the greatest violin virtuoso in the world.

Celebrating Paganini's Impact on Classical Music: An Insight into His Journey, Achievements and Lasting Legacy

By 1795, Paganini was already proving to be a formidable talent. His early lessons with his father and local musicians led him to study under the renowned Alessandro Rolla. Rolla and another key violin teacher, Gasparo Ghiretti, played a significant role in shaping Paganini's early musical development. However, it was the talented composer, Ferdinando Paer, who introduced him to composition.

Paganini's musical style was significantly influenced by his discovery of Locatelli’s 'L'arte del violino'. Contrary to popular belief, 'L'arte del violino' consists of 12 violin concertos, each containing challenging capriccios, not a set of 24 caprices. This discovery, nonetheless, had a profound impact on Paganini's future musical development.

Paganini's Rise to Stardom

Niccolò Paganini stepped into the limelight as a freelance virtuoso in 1801. Despite a brief low phase in Lucca from 1801 to 1805, Paganini's career took off spectacularly as he toured extensively around Italy, enthralling audiences with his unmatched skill and mastery over the violin. He penned 'Le streghe' for his magnificent debut at La Scala in 1813, a piece that, along with his 24 Caprices, became a staple at his concerts.

Paganini's concerts were renowned for mesmerizing showmanship and innovations in violin technique, including left-hand pizzicato, rapid string crossings, and extensive use of harmonics, which set a new standard for violin performance. In 1828, Paganini decided to venture beyond Italy, aiming to mesmerize the rest of Europe with his musical prowess - a feat he accomplished with utmost finesse.

Paganini's Legacy

His demise in 1840 in Nice marked the end of an era dominated by the musical genius of Paganini. His awe-inspiring story from humble beginnings to the zenith of musical mastery continues to inspire musicians, composers, critics, and impresarios. His 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1, and his six major violin concertos are regarded as some of the most challenging works in the violin repertoire and are essential studies for aspiring virtuosi. His legacy is a testament to his technical innovation and expressive range, leaving an enduring impact on both performance and composition for the violin.