This devilishly divine violin by Niccolo Paganini - why the maestro bequeathed it to Genoa. Paganini's posthumous journey Message on the topic of Paganini

• Nicolo Paganini was born on October 27, 1789 in Genoa (Italy). The lane in which his parents lived was called Black Cat.
• Nicolo's father, Antonio Paganini, was once a longshoreman, after which he became a small shopkeeper. His hobby was playing the mandolin, which incredibly irritated both his wife and neighbors.
• Nicolo's mother's name was Teresa Bocciardo. Nicolo was her second child. He was born very small and was sick a lot as a child. One day in a dream, Teresa saw an angel who told her that a great future awaited her son, that he would become a famous musician.
• From a young age, his father forces Nicolo to play the violin for many hours in a row. He even locks the child in a dark barn to prevent him from running away from his studies. Antonio Paganini, without doubting the veracity of his wife’s dream, dreams of making his youngest son a great violinist, especially since the eldest son does not please his father with success in this field. As a result, constant practice completely undermines Nicolo’s already poor health, and periods of tireless violin playing now alternate with illness. Hours of training bring a child to catalepsy - a state between life and death. Nicolo shows no signs of life, and his parents are going to bury him, but suddenly the boy moves in the coffin.
• As soon as Nicolo grew up, teachers began to be invited to him. The first is the Genoese violinist and composer Francesco Gnecco.
• The fame of an unusually gifted boy spreads throughout the city. The first violinist of the chapel of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Giacomo Costa, begins to study with Nicolo once a week.
• 1794 - the first concert of Nicolo Paganini. The boy finds himself in a circle of professional musicians, he admires them, and they admire him. The aristocrat, Marquis Giancarlo di Negro, takes care of the boy and his education.
• 1797 - eight-year-old Nicolo Paganini composes his first musical work - a violin sonata. It was immediately followed by several more variations.
• Thanks to Marquis di Negro, Nicolo continues his education. Now he studies with cellist Gasparo Ghiretti. The new teacher forces his pupil to compose music without an instrument, guided only by his inner ear. For a short period, Paganini composed 24 fugues for piano for four hands, two violin concertos and several plays. None of these works have survived to this day.
• Early 1800s – first tours. First Nicolo performs in Parma, and the performances are a huge triumph. After Parma, the young man receives an invitation to perform at the court of Duke Ferdinand of Bourbon. Father Nicolo understands that the time has finally come to make money from his son’s talent and takes upon himself the organization of tours throughout Northern Italy. Paganini performs with great success in Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Livorno, and Milan. But active touring does not cancel out studies and continuation of studies, and Nicolo, under the guidance of his father, continues to study the violin.
• During this period, Nicolo Paganini composed 24 caprices.
• Dependence on a stern father begins to weigh more and more on the grown-up son, and he takes the first opportunity to get rid of it. In the city of Lucca he is offered the position of first violinist, and he immediately accepts.
• In Lucca, Paganini is soon entrusted with the leadership of the city orchestra. At the same time, concert activities are not prohibited, and Nicolo performs in neighboring cities.
• First love. Paganini has not toured for three years; in his own words, he only “plucks the strings of the guitar with pleasure.” A certain “Signora Dide” becomes the musician’s muse. Paganini writes music, and during this period 12 sonatas for violin and guitar were born.
• 1804 - Paganini returns to Genoa, where he again only writes and does not perform.
• 1805 - 1808 - Nicolo again in Lucca. He serves as a chamber pianist and orchestra conductor.
• In Lucca, Nicolo falls in love with Elisa, Napoleon's sister and wife of the ruler of the duchy, Felice Baciocchi. “Love Scene”, written for the strings “E” and “A”, is dedicated to Eliza. In response, the capricious princess demands a composition for one string. Paganini “accepts the challenge” and a few weeks later the Napoleon sonata for the G string appears. In both the first and second cases, the remaining strings from the violin are removed during performance.
• August 25, 1805 - the Napoleon sonata was performed with great success by Paganini at a court concert.
• The same period - Paganini completes the “Great Violin Concerto” in E minor.
• 1805 - 1808 - Nicolo gets tired of his relationship with Eliza, the ducal court, and society. He actively tours, trying to return to Lucca as often as possible.
• 1808 - Elisa becomes the owner of the Duchy of Tuscany with its capital in Florence. She gives ball after ball, and here it is impossible to do without her beloved musician.
• 1808 - 1812 - Nicolo Paganini serves in Florence.
• 1812 - having actually escaped from Florence, Paganini moves to Milan and regularly visits the La Scala theater.
• Summer 1813 - at La Scala Nicolo watches Süssmayer's ballet The Wedding of Benevento. The witches' dance makes a special impression on the musician. That same evening, Paganini got to work, and a few months later, at the same La Scala, he presented his Variations for violin and orchestra on the theme of this dance. Since the composer used expressive means of the violin in his music, previously unused by anyone, the success was enchanting.
• End of 1814 - Paganini comes to Genoa with concerts. At home, he meets the daughter of a local tailor, Angelina Cavanna. A strong feeling flares up between them, and Nicolo continues his concert travels no longer alone. It soon turns out that Angelina is pregnant. Paganini, fearing a scandal, sends the girl to his relatives living near Genoa.
• 1815 - the scandal still occurs. Angelina is found by her father and immediately sues the musician for the kidnapping and rape of his daughter. The daughter gives birth to a child, but he soon dies. The case receives wide publicity, and society turns away from Paganini. The court sentences him to a fine of three thousand lire in favor of Angelina.
• The lawsuit disrupts Nicolo Paganini's tour in Europe, for which a new concerto in D major (known to us as the First Concerto) has already been written.
• End of 1816 - Paganini goes to perform in Venice. Here he meets the choir singer Antonia Bianchi. The composer undertakes to teach the girl to sing and, as a result, takes her with him.
• 1818 - Paganini in Rome and Naples.
• Late 1810s - Paganini collects his 24 Caprices for publication.
• October 11, 1821 - last performance in Naples.
• The end of 1821 - Nicolo’s health condition deteriorates sharply. He has rheumatism, cough, tuberculosis, fever... The musician calls his mother and together they move to Pavia, to one of the best doctors of that time, Ciro Borda. Rumors are circulating in Italy that the composer has died. Having more or less regained his health, Paganini does not play - his hands are weak. A musician teaches violin to the young son of one of the merchants of Genoa.
• April 1824 - concerts again, first in Milan, then in Pavia and Genoa. Paganini is almost healthy, but he will not be able to get rid of a painful cough throughout his life.
• The same period - the connection between Paganini and Antonia Bianchi (who by that time had become a famous singer) was renewed. Their son Achilles is born.
• 1824 - 1828 - at this time Nicolo Paganini composed the “Military Sonata”, “Polish Variations” and three violin concertos.
• 1828 – 1836 – Paganini’s last concert tour. First he goes to Vienna with Antonia and his son. In Vienna, Nicolo composes “Variations on the Austrian Hymn” and conceives the “Venice Carnival”.
• August 1829 – February 1831 – Germany.
• Spring 1830 - in Westphalia, Paganini buys himself the title of baron. Nicolo does this for the sake of his son, since the title will be inherited by him. After this event, Paganini took a break from concerts for six months. He completes the Fourth Concerto, almost finishes the Fifth, and composes “Amorous Gallant Sonata.”
• February 1831 – France. As elsewhere, Nicolo Paganini’s performances are a stunning success. Increasingly, at his concerts, the musician plays with guitar accompaniment.
• December 1836 - Nice, where Paganini performs three concerts. His health condition is deteriorating sharply.
• October 1839 - Paganini visits Genoa for the last time. He is very weak.
• May 27, 1840 - Nicolo Paganini dies in Nice.

Name: Niccolo Paganini

Age: 57 years old

Place of Birth: Genoa, Italy

A place of death: Nice, Italy

Activity: violinist, composer

Family status: was divorced

Niccolo Paganini - biography

Burning eyes, twisted fingers, an unnaturally curved silhouette, deathly pallor... It seemed as if the devil himself was standing on the stage with a violin in his hands.

Random passers-by who wandered onto one of the streets of Genoa could hear the divine sounds of the violin. They seemed to be coming from underground, but in fact - from the basement of the house. There, locked, sat little Niccolo. His strict father once again punished him for not trying hard enough.

Childhood, family

Antonio Paganini was a small shopkeeper, but had a passion for music. He himself had no talent, so he promised himself that he would definitely make one of his six sons a musician. The choice fell on Niccolo.

Instead of playing with his peers, the boy stood with a violin in his hands for eight hours a day. At the slightest mistake, the father would use his fists, take away food, or lock his son in the basement. Being in the dark for a long time, Niccolo became pale, emaciated and thin.

Surprisingly, such a cruel upbringing did not turn the boy away from music. On the contrary, she became his faithful friend. In moments of despair, he picked up a bow and began to move it furiously across the strings. With sounds, he conveyed everything that had accumulated in his soul, that he saw or heard on the street - the creaking of wheels, the scolding of a merchant, the cry of a donkey and bells... He depicted indescribably how the bells sound.

The father, observing his son’s success, decided to send him to study with the best teachers. But when they heard Niccolo play, they just threw up their hands. The famous violinist Alessandro Rolla bluntly stated: “I have nothing to teach him, he can do everything himself.”

Paganini Sr. pursued his own interests: he hoped that his gifted son would earn a lot of money and provide him with a decent old age. In 1797, he went with Niccolo on the first tour in the boy’s life. And I was surprised at how many spectators came to listen to the young virtuoso...

Niccolo Paganini - biography of personal life

Like any creative person, Niccolo needed inspiration, which he found in women. His first muse was a certain “Signora Dide” - a noble lady. In 1801, she settled the musician on her Tuscan estate. Paganini spent three years there, becoming addicted to playing the guitar and gambling.

Another lover of the master was Napoleon Bonaparte's sister Eliza. The girl made him a court musician - Niccolo led a small orchestra. In the heat of passion, he composed a “Love Sonata” for Eliza, which required only two strings to perform. The woman was delighted, but set Niccolo a more difficult task - to write a piece for one string. But this was not difficult for him either - this is how the “Napoleon” sonata was born.

In 1825, the musician’s son Achilles was born. Niccolo met his mother, singer Antonia Bianchi, on tour. They made a wonderful duet: he played the violin, she sang. Alas, the happiness lasted only three years. After the breakup, Paganini insisted that his son stay with him, promising to give him everything: wealth, education, status in society. And this required a lot of money.

Music

It seemed that nothing was impossible for Paganini. How many times did he undertake works that no one had dared to perform before him! How many of his own he wrote - so difficult that only he could play them himself. How often did you continue to play, even if the string on the instrument broke? Some even believed that he tore them on purpose to demonstrate his skill. Violinists from the orchestra tried more than once to play Paganini’s instrument, but nothing worked for them: the violin was... out of tune. How did Niccolo himself display such masterpieces on it? Unanswered question.

However, Paganini attracted entire halls not only due to his talent. Many came to see him himself, sincerely believing that the devil himself was performing on stage.

“Take a close look at his left shoulder. The evil one is hiding behind him!” - the ladies in the front row whispered to each other. And then he appeared - lopsided on one shoulder, stooped, with disproportionately long arms, a hooked nose. And he began to play - furiously, passionately. According to eyewitnesses, “he was swaying in all directions, as if drunk. He pushed one leg with the other and put it forward. He raised his hands to the sky, then lowered them to the ground, stretching them towards the wings. Then he stopped again with open arms, hugging himself..."

Paganini's appearance, behavior, and manners were quite understandable. According to one version, he suffered from Marfan syndrome. Hence - the features of the figure, expressiveness. But the European public was not satisfied with such a simple explanation; they were sure: the Italian had sold his soul to the devil. Some even said that if you pulled off his boots, you would find cloven hooves.

And what about Paganini? He was silent. His father taught him that some rumors can be useful. And indeed, the audience spared no expense for the sake of the spectacle, and Niccolo gave himself as gloomy an appearance as possible so as not to disappoint those who came.

However, there was indeed something sinister in some of his writings. So, in 1813 he wrote the work “The Witches”. Inspiration came to the maestro when he visited La Scala at the performance of “The Walnut of Benevento” and saw the unrestrained dance of witches. It is interesting that Paganini preferred not to write down his works anywhere: he was afraid that one day someone would find these notes and repeat his success.

Niccolo's popularity was stunning. Newspapers published enthusiastic articles. Postcards, snuff boxes, key rings, and handkerchiefs with the image of the virtuoso were issued. Confectioners made busts of him from candied fruits and baked violin-shaped buns. Hairdressers gave their clients hairstyles “like Paganini”...

Recent years, Paganini's disease

Giving dozens of concerts a month, Niccolo drove himself to exhaustion. In 1834, he had to admit: he could no longer perform as before. Paganini coughed up blood and suffered from rheumatism. The doctors insisted: he needed rest.

Without music, Niccolo slowly went crazy. After some time, he once again tried to resume concert activities, but his body could no longer withstand the stress, and in 1839 Paganini returned to his native Genoa. Bedridden, he could only communicate with the help of notes, and there was no talk of playing - the patient only plucked the strings of his favorite violin lying nearby.

Paganini spent the last months of his life in Nice. The pain was already unbearable, and he prayed for heaven to take him away. On May 27, 1840, the 57-year-old musician died of consumption.

During his lifetime, the church did not favor Paganini: he refused to play at services or write music for worship. After his death, he was declared a heretic, and the clergy, one after another, refused to bury him. Achilles first kept his father's body in his room, then embalmed it and moved it to the basement. It lay there for a whole year. And then Achilles got ready to set off...

In search of his father's resting place, he carried the coffin across Italian soil. But the clergy continued to refuse Christian burial. Meanwhile, the ominous sounds of a violin and the sighs of the dead man were allegedly heard from the coffin...

It’s hard to believe, but the great musician finally came to rest only 56 years after his death! The coffin with the body was dug up at least ten times, and the last time, when it was opened, it was discovered that the musician’s head had not decayed at all.

Nicolo learned to play the violin virtuoso in early childhood, and soon in Genoa, where he then lived, they could no longer find a teacher for him who would teach the young performer anything new. In his youth, Paganini devoted many hours every day to playing the violin. Later, he began to pick up his instrument only to play at a rehearsal or at a concert, or simply to tune his instrument. He said: "I've worked hard enough to develop my talent. It's time for me to rest."

Paganini was loved not only in Italy, but throughout Europe, despite the fact that he loved gambling and beautiful women, although sometimes this created problems for him. In Vienna, for example, his portraits were exhibited in all public places and in all shops. All members of the royal family always attended concerts if Paganini took part in them. The violinist's musical talent attracted a huge number of fans to him. Through the efforts of slanderers and envious people, Paganini developed a reputation as a dissolute and immoral person. Even the maestro’s very appearance - a pale face, as if sculpted from wax, long black thick hair, a huge scarf in which he always, even in the summer, wrapped himself in order to avoid colds - contributed to the emergence of more and more new rumors and gossip around his name. Throughout his life, Paganini suffered from various diseases. He died in May 1840 from a disease of the larynx at the age of 57. And after Paganini’s death, all sorts of rumors and gossip circulated about him for a long time. There was even a legend that he was in cahoots with Satan himself.

Paganini turned 40 before he stopped selecting women based on three criteria: large breasts, thin waist and slender legs. He often said that he wanted to get married, but he never managed to arrange a peaceful family life for himself until the end of his days.

The life of the great maestro consisted of concerts, trips, illnesses and all kinds of sexual adventures. After a series of concerts, he would retire somewhere quiet, usually with a woman, to regain his strength. The first of these women was a lady from a rich and noble family, with whom he went on vacation to her family estate at the end of the nineteenth century, when he was not yet 20.

In 1805, Elisa Bonaparte Bacchiocci, Napoleon's sister, appointed Paganini director of the music school in Piombino. Many then suspected Paganini that the reason for this appointment was not only his ability to masterly play the violin. In 1813, Paganini refused this position and devoted all his time to concert performances.

Paganini's Spanish talent aroused admiration, which cannot be said about his attitude towards the women whom fate brought to him. The exception was Eleonora de Lucca, Paganini's first love, the only person other than his relatives mentioned in his will.

In 1808, Paganini met Angelina Cavanna, the 17-year-old daughter of a tailor from Genoa. Angelina refused to sleep with Paganini, insisting that they must first become husband and wife. Paganini pretended to agree with her arguments and persuaded her to go to a small Italian town, supposedly in order to marry her there. The wedding did not take place. When Angelina became pregnant, Paganini immediately abandoned her. The girl's father went to court. Paganini was arrested and sent to prison. He was released after he was able to prove that Angelina behaved “very freely” even before meeting him, and agreed to have sexual relations with him voluntarily, without any coercion on his part.

Paganini's longest love affair was his affair with dancer Antonia Bianchi. It began in 1815 and lasted 13 years. Antonia often made Paganini scenes of jealousy, and their romance ended in a noisy scandal. Paganini paid Antonia a significant sum of money so that she would renounce all rights to her son Achilles and leave them both alone.

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Some saw him as a fraudster, others as a genius. The musician’s entire life was shrouded in secrets and omissions, and only now some details of his biography have begun to be revealed. But everyone who spoke about the violinist agreed in one opinion: this man was a real Master. From our article you will find out which master made Paganini’s violin, which he bequeathed to Genoa, and why the great violinist donated this instrument to his hometown!

"A worthy son of a glorious city"

The name Niccolo Paganini is very closely associated with. Firstly, the maestro was born in Genoa. In October 1782, on the 27th, in a poor Genoese quarter called the “Black Cat”, a third child was born into the family of Antonio and Teresa. The boy who was destined to glorify Genoa for centuries.

Despite the fact that Niccolo's father was an ordinary sales agent, he was fond of music. Disappointed that the eldest son Carlo did not show any musical abilities, the father turned his attention to the younger son, and literally forced the boy to play the violin all day long. He dreamed that one day his son would become a famous musician and will earn a lot of money. And young Niccolo dreamed of taking a break from musical passages for at least one day...

The first solo concert took place when the young violinist was only 11 years old. The boy studied for several years with Giacomo Costa, who was Niccolo's first mentor and taught him violin making. The young genius surprised the townspeople, and people started talking about the talented boy.

The next teacher was Gasparo Ghiretti, who instilled the composing technique and taught the boy to compose, focusing not on the instrument, but only on his inner ear.

At the age of 16, Niccolo managed to escape from his father’s care and went to Pisa, where people started talking about his performances. None of the musicians could repeat the passages that Niccolo masterfully mastered. He could make sounds from the violin that sounded like birdsong., the sounds of the wind and even the human voice. The concerts went one after another, the cities were replaced by a succession: , Livorno...

But real success also came to the violinist, again in Genoa. This happened in 1827, at the Falcone Theater, where the musician gave a concert on November 9. The listeners were amazed by the magic that the great maestro extracted from the violin.

Among the listeners was the King of Piedmont and Charles Felix. The august monarch did not skimp on applause, and after the concert he showed his special affection to the musician. This incident made it onto the pages of the Gazetta di Genova, and soon the name of Paganini was known throughout Italy.

Throughout his life, the musician was credited with many affairs, including with august persons. History has preserved only the names of only two women with whom Niccolo had rather long affairs.

One of the novels happened with Angelina Cavanna, however, it was overshadowed by the fact that Angelina wrote to the authorities that the musician had seduced her and kidnapped her.

Paganini even had to spend several days in prison. After posting bail and paying a large sum to Angelina, the case was closed.

The second novel is associated with the name of Antonia Bianca, who gave birth to the musician’s only son, Achilles.

Due to numerous trips, constant music playing Paganini did not take care of his own health at all. He began to be bothered by a cough and periodic pain. Neither ointments, nor rubbing, nor trips to French seaside resorts could cure the master.

The musician spent the last six months of his life in Nice. Having rented a house on the coast, he lived out his last days almost alone, not wanting to see anyone and suffering from the inability to make music, as before.

Interesting facts about Paganini:

• Many contemporaries called Paganini “the violinist of the devil”. Many refused to believe that the musician was capable of producing such beautiful sounds from the violin, and only after listening to his performance did they admit that this man was actually a virtuoso of his craft.
• Paganini was incredibly absent-minded. He didn’t even remember the date of his birth, and in his documents he indicated different dates everywhere due to a misunderstanding - sometimes two years later, sometimes a year earlier. And he was the third child in the family, and not the second, as he himself said.
• It is unknown whether Niccolo attended school. In his letters, written by him already in adulthood, there are very frequent and gross spelling errors.

Find out on the pages of our website, as well as how to visit the most famous attraction in Italy!

The history of the famous instrument

Who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed as a gift to Genoa? Master Paganini had a huge collection of violins, which were created by real masters of their era - Guarneri, Stradivari, Amati. But there was one that was my favorite. Its name is “il Cannone” (“The Cannon”). Paganini gave this name to the instrument because of the Italian events taking place in the first half of the 19th century.

Then a national liberation movement unfolded across the country, and Paganini’s frantic violin only inspired the freedom fighters. Paganini's concerts have been banned more than once, but the violin continued to sound...

So which of all the masters made the violin that Paganini gave to Genoa, whose work the maestro bequeathed to his hometown?

The master who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed to Genoa is Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri, grandson of Andrea Guarneri. It was made, according to archives, in 1743 (according to other sources - in 1742). It was presented to seventeen-year-old Niccolo by a Parisian merchant, whose name has not been preserved in history.

He was amazed by the power of the instrument's sound: it withstood the powerful pressure of the bow, while the sound remained smooth and not distorted. That is why the violin became Paganini’s favorite concert instrument.

The musician treated her like a living being. One day the violin lost its voice, and the musician took it to violin maker Viloma. There was a reputation about this master that he could breathe a second life into any instrument.

Paganini turned to the master with hope. A week later, arriving at Vilhomme’s house, Paganini, with anxiety and pain, touched the strings with his bow and exhaled with relief - the sound remained the same, strong and powerful. As a reward for this, Paganini gave Vilhomme a precious box inlaid with stones.

At the same time, he explained his gift this way: “I had two of these boxes. I gave one of them to my doctor - he healed my body, and I give the second to you - you healed my “Cannone”.

After the death of the Maestro, the violin received another name - "The Widow of Paganini". No musician was able to extract the sound from it as Niccolo was able to do.

The will of the Great musician Paganini stated that the collection of violins, and especially the “Cannone”, should be given as a gift to his hometown - Genoa, and never leave its borders.

The violin has been kept in the museum (Palazzo Doria Tursi) since 1851. By the way, in the same room some of the Maestro’s belongings, his personal letters, scores and accessories for music lessons are exhibited.

The famous violin is stored in a special display case in which certain conditions are maintained - the temperature should be 20 degrees and the humidity should not exceed 50%.

The violin is kept in the museum hall, but even today it continues to sound. True, this right is not granted to everyone - only the musician who will be declared the winner of the Paganini music competition can play the Master’s violin. And this musician plays the famous violin in front of a crowded hall...

It is noteworthy that one of the violins, previously owned by the Master, is now in Russia. The violin by Carlo Bergonzi was purchased in November 2005 at the Sotheby's auction by Russian citizen Maxim Viktorov, the auction amounted to $1.1 million.

Viktorov is the founder and chairman of the board of trustees of the Violin Art Foundation. The Foundation is engaged in the support and development of violin art in Russia, as well as supporting talented violin music performers.

On our website you will also learn everything about the popular! We'll tell you how to spend an unforgettable winter holiday with the whole family.

Phone: +39 010 557 2193

You can get to the museum where the violin is located through the Palazzo Bianco (“White Palace”), passing through the covered gallery in Doria Tursi (the municipality of Genoa is located in this palace).

The cost of a ticket to Palazzo Bianco is 10 euros (for children and privileged categories of citizens the ticket price is 8 euros).

The museum is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Day off is Monday.

You can get to Via Garibaldi by metro, to the San Giorgio station.

From this video you will learn even more about the Niccolo Paganini Museum in Genoa, what instruments are stored there, and also why the great maestro bequeathed his violins to his hometown:

None of the listeners were able to express in words the feelings that arose when Master Paganini picked up the bow and touched his magic violin with it...

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Niccol Paganini, Italian violinist and composer, was born on October 27, 1782.

Italian virtuoso violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini was born on October 27, 1782 in the city of Genoa (Italy) in the family of a small merchant.

The young musician performed with great success in Italian cities - Florence, Pisa, Livorno, Bologna and Milan. From 1801 to 1804, Paganini lived in Tuscany. The creation of the famous capricci for solo violin dates back to this period.

In 1805, at the height of his performing fame, the musician changed his concert activity to court service in Lucca as a chamber pianist and orchestra conductor, but in 1808 he returned to concertizing.

In 1811 he composed the First Concerto in D major for violin and orchestra, and in 1826 the Second Concerto in B minor for violin and orchestra.

The originality of his playing style and ease of mastery of the instrument soon brought him fame throughout Italy. Paganini repeatedly performed at La Scala.

From 1828 to 1834, he gave hundreds of concerts in major European cities, which aroused enthusiastic praise from composers Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Frederic Chopin, Gioachino Rossini, poet Heinrich Heine, writers Johann Goethe, Honore Balzac, Theodor Hoffmann. The Paganini phenomenon had a strong influence on the work of composer Franz Liszt, who called the Italian maestro’s playing a “supernatural miracle.”

Paganini's creative path was suddenly interrupted in 1834, the reasons for which were the musician's failing health and a number of public scandals that arose around his figure. He returned to his homeland in Genoa in 1837 as a seriously ill man.

In the last days of his life, Paganini was tormented by severe coughing attacks, due to which the musician could not eat or speak - he wrote his requests on pieces of paper. Paganini died in Nice on May 27, 1840. After Paganini's death, the papal curia did not give permission for his burial in Italy for a long time. Only many years later, in 1876, the musician’s ashes were transported to Parma and buried there.

Paganini had a precious collection of violins made by Antonio Stradivari, the Guarneri and Amati families, of which Giuseppe Guarneri bequeathed his most beloved and famous violin to the city of Genoa.

The name Niccolo Paganini has become a symbol of the highest virtuosity in musical performance. He laid the foundations of modern violin technique and influenced the development of pianism and the art of instrumentation. Paganini was also a major composer, one of the founders of musical romanticism. His 24 capricci for solo violin and two concertos for violin and orchestra are especially popular. He also owns various pieces and variations for violin, instrumental ensembles, and numerous pieces for guitar. Many violin works of the greatest violinist were arranged by Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Sergei Rachmaninoff. The image of Niccolo Paganini was captured by Heinrich Heine in the story “Florentine Nights”.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources