Life and works of Italian composer and virtuoso violinist Niccolo Paganini, dubbed as the "first superstar."

Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840), Italian composer, violinist, violist, and guitarist, is hailed as the superstar, the greatest violin virtuoso of all time. He played all the music he wrote, and drew on folk and gypsy tunes to create the modern repertoire of virtuoso techniques.

Paganini revolutionized the playing of violin - from bowing to pizzicato. It was Paganini who made extensive use of plucking the strings with the left hand as nobody had ever played before his time. Sergey Rachmaninov wrote the extremely popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Early Years

Son of a dockyard worker, Paganini was born in Genoa, Italy on October 27. Initially, his bullying father was his teacher who constantly forced him to practise the violin. He was a concert soloist from the age of nine, and a virtuoso violinist from age 11. Two years later, he studied composition in Parma.

Teen Years Concert, the First Superstar

In his mid-teens, he performed a number of concerts in Italy to financially sustain him, but success made him gamble and drink that he was nearly killed. Paganini developed a career as a ‘free spirit’ throughout Italy, stunning audiences and critics with his superb showmanship and magnetic stage presence. He might have been the 'first superstar.'

Performance Tours

Niccolo Paganini made triumphant tours of Austria, Germany, and France, and Westphalia where he was made a baron. He also visited England and Scotland.

Paganini's 'Pact with the Devil'

Between 1828 and 1834, his career as a touring virtuoso was at its height. His phenomenal and astonishing virtuosity, bizzare appearance, and wild love life caused rumors that he might have made a pact with the Devil who stood by him when he played.

Paganini's Family and Last Years

He had one son, Achille, by his mistress, singer Antonia Bianchi, although he and Antonia separated in 1828. In the late 1830s, his health began to fail. He died from cancer of the larynx.

Paganini's Major Works

Paganini's major works include 24 Caprices for solo violin, violin concertos, and shorter works (Le streghe (Witches Dance) and Moto perpetuo (Perpetual motion). Other compositions include six concertos, variations for violin and orchestra, sonatas for violin and guitar, and guitar quarterts.

His is profoundly acknowledged for his artistic influence on Liszt, Chopin, Schumann and Berlioz, who took up his challenge in search for greater expression in their own works; he also influenced other successive violinists like Ernst, Beriot, and Viextemps.

List of Paganini's Works

• Variations on 'La Carmagnole' 1795 (He was 13)
• 24 Caprices for solo violin 1805
• Le streghe ('Witches' Dance') 1813
• Violin Concerto No. 1 1817
• Violin Concerto No. 2, including La campanella ('the Little Bell') 1826
• Violin Concerto No. 3 1826
• Variations on 'God Save the King,' for Violin and orchestra 1829
• Violin concertos No.4 and 5 1830
• Moto Perpetuo, for violin and orchestra 1830
• Sonata amorosa galante 1831
• St Patrick's Day, variations on an Irish song 1831
• Sonata for viola and orchestra 1834
• Sonata, La Primavera 1838

Recommended Listening:

Violin Caprice No.24

Violin Concertos 1 and 2

Suggested Link:

Paganini Family online

Sources:

The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed by Stanley Sadie (2000)

Various Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Composers and Music