Which composer played the Paganini violin? Niccolo Paganini - biography, photo, personal life of the violinist. Start of an independent career. Lucca

• 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 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 composition- 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 with great success performs in Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Livorno, 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. Things flare up between them strong feeling, 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 trial disrupts Nicolo Paganini's tour in Europe, for which he had already written new concert D major (known to us as the First Concerto).
• 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. Musician teaches violin little son 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 is the connection between Paganini and Antonia Bianchi (who by that time had become famous singer) is resumed. 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 in last time visits Genoa. He is very weak.
• May 27, 1840 - Nicolo Paganini dies in Nice.

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 paid attention to his youngest 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...

First solo concert happened when to 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 only son Achilles.

Due to numerous trips, constant music playing Paganini did not study at all own health . 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 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 his date of birth, and indicated it everywhere in his documents due to a misunderstanding different dates- 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 mature age, 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 huge collection 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 a favorite concert instrument Paganini.

The musician treated her like a living being. One day the violin lost its voice and the musician carried it violin maker William. 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 can play the Master’s violin music competition named after Paganini. And this musician plays the famous violin in front of a crowded hall...

This gloomy-looking man, gambler and rowdy was completely transformed when he picked up the violin. Even those who thought that his fame as the best violinist in the world was inflated had to come to terms with it when they had a chance to hear him play. For people who did not understand music, he staged real performances with onomatopoeia - “buzzing”, “mooing” and “talking” with strings.

The future genius was born into the family of a small merchant in Genoa. His father tried unsuccessfully to teach music to his eldest son, Carlo. But when Niccolo grew up, his father abandoned classes with Carlo, which he was undoubtedly happy about. How to raise a genius and a virtuoso? You can captivate and entertain a gifted child, as Mozart’s father did. Or you can lock him in the closet until he learns a particularly difficult sketch. It was in this atmosphere that Niccolo was raised. The boy had practically no childhood; all his days were spent in endless, exhausting music lessons. From birth, he had an incredibly sensitive ear; he immersed himself in the world of sounds and tried to replicate it with the help of a guitar, mandolin and violin.

Niccolo Paganini's first concert took place at the age of eleven. Concert of a child prodigy performing his variations famous works, shocked the audience. The boy acquired noble patrons. Giancarlo de Negro, a merchant and music lover, even provided him with the opportunity to continue studying with the cellist Ghiretti. The teacher forced the talented student to compose melodies without an instrument, to hear the music in his head.

After completing his studies, Niccolo became more and more famous. He began to earn good money giving concerts throughout Italy. The musician promised to reveal the secret of his skill when he finished his career, and this only fueled the public’s interest. Everything about him seemed mysterious. His appearance is deathly pale skin, sunken eyes, a prominent hooked nose and incredibly long fingers, jerky movements of a skinny figure. His violin playing was from God or the devil, but it was definitely inhumanly good. His lifestyle and addiction to gambling, which often left him broke. And his detached, sublime state, when he stood on stage, merging with the instrument.

While traveling and performing, the maestro composed music. At that time (1801-1804) he lived in Tuscany and, walking along the sun-drenched streets, composed his famous caprices for the violin. For some time (1805-1808) Niccolo even became a court musician, but then returned to concerts. His unique, easy and relaxed manner of performance and virtuoso mastery of the instrument soon made him the most popular violinist in Italy. For six years (1828-1834) he gave hundreds of concerts in European capitals. Paganini evoked admiration and delight among fellow musicians. Heine, Balzac and Goethe dedicated admiring lines to him.

His creative path ended quickly and tragically. Due to tuberculosis, Paganini had to return to Italy, and coughing attacks prevented him from speaking. He returned to his native Genoa as a deeply ill man. Suffering terribly from severe attacks, Niccolo lived for another three years. The musician died in Nice on May 27, 1840. The papal curia for a long time did not allow him to be buried in Italy because of his lifestyle. The embalmed body lay in the room for two months, and in the basement of his house for another year. He was reburied several times, and after 36 years Niccolo Paganini found peace in Parma. After Paganini's death, humanity was left with 24 caprices, many variations on opera and ballet themes, six concertos for violin and orchestra, sonatas, sonatas for violin and guitar, variations and vocal compositions.

By the way, shortly before his death, Paganini revealed his secret of excellent violin skills. It consists of complete spiritual merging with the instrument. You have to look and feel the world through the instrument, store memories in the fretboard, become the strings and the bow yourself. It seems that everything is simple, but not everyone professional musician agree to sacrifice your life and personality to music.

"Evening Moscow" offers you 7 amazing facts from the biography of the great maestro.

1. At concerts, Paganini put on a real show. It had such an effect on the public strong impression that some fainted in the hall. He thought through every number and exit before the smallest details. Everything was rehearsed: from a repertoire consisting exclusively of their own compositions, to spectacular tricks, such as a broken string, an out-of-tune violin and “greetings from the village” - imitating the sounds of animals. Paganini learned to imitate the guitar, flute, trumpets and horns and could replace the orchestra. The loving public nicknamed him the “Southern Sorcerer.”

“Everything that is best and highest in the world is connected with Christianity. Top musicians of our century they write church hymns. There is none classical composer who would not write oratorios and masses. Mozart's Requiem, Bach's oratorios, Handel's masses testify that God does not abandon Europe and that our entire culture is built on the principles Christian love and mercy. But then a violinist appeared who turned off this road. With all his behavior, insatiable greed, and the intoxicating poison of earthly temptations, Paganini sows anxiety on our planet and gives people over to the power of hell. Paganini kills the infant Christ."

3. For some, Paganini was an undoubted genius, for others - a convenient victim for attacks. Mysterious “well-wishers” sent letters to his parents describing the debauchery and debauchery in which their son was allegedly mired. Rumors swirled around him, each more surprising than the other. For example, only the lazy did not know that Niccolo Paganini honed his skills not through grueling studies in childhood and youth, but entertained himself with music while in prison. This legend turned out to be so tenacious that it was even reflected in Stendhal’s novel.

4. Newspapers often published reports about Paganini’s death. It all started with an accidental mistake, but the journalists got a taste for it - after all, newspapers with a refutation sold out in double and triple circulation, and the violinist’s popularity only grew because of this. When Paganini died in Nice, newspapers routinely published his obituary with the note: “We hope that soon, as usual, we will publish a refutation.”

5. In 1893, the maestro’s coffin was dug up again because people allegedly heard strange sounds coming from underground. In the presence of Paganini's grandson, Czech violinist Frantisek Ondřicek, the rotten coffin was opened. There is a legend that the musician’s body had decayed by that time, but his face and head were practically unharmed. Of course, after this, the most incredible rumors and gossip circulated throughout Italy for decades. In 1896, the coffin with the remains of Paganini was dug up again and reburied in another cemetery in Parma.

6. Paganini was a favorite not only of the masses, but also of titled persons. Every European monarch considered it their duty to invite him for a personal performance, and once he was called to perform the Masonic hymn before the Italian Grand Lodge. Of course, he received incredible fees for his performances, but due to intemperance in gambling he often found himself in situations where he did not have enough money for food. He had to repeatedly pawn his violin and ask friends for help. With the birth of his son, he became calmer and in his old age was able to accumulate a small fortune.

7. The maestro preferred not to write down his works on paper in order to remain the only performer (and those who could perform Paganini’s melodies even with notes were negligible). Imagine the surprise of the master who heard his own variations performed by the violinist and composer Heinrich Ernst! Is it possible that the variations were chosen by his ear? When Ernst came to visit Paganini, he hid the manuscript under his pillow. He told the surprised musician that after his performance they should be wary not only of his ears, but also of his eyes.

MUSES OF MUSICIAN NICCOLO PAGANINI

One of the most bright personalities musical history despite being rather demonic appearance, never lacked fans. He was not even 20 when a rich and noble mistress appeared, taking the young virtuoso to the estate to “relax” after concerts. Until the age of 40, he selected women for himself according to three criteria: large breasts, thin waist and long legs… It is thanks to women like this that there is a great musical heritage.

The Joys of Freedom Niccolo Paganini

In all European capitals early XIX centuries portraits appeared strange man. A pale, waxy face, tangled black hair, a large hooked nose, eyes burning like coals and a huge scarf covering the entire upper half of the body. When looking at the portrait, people whispered: “He looks like the devil.” That was the maestro Paganini- a composer and violinist, whose equal has not been, is not, and is unlikely to be. Journalists accused the musician of all mortal sins, adding fuel to the fire and the church. A trail of absurd “revelations” accompanied Niccolo throughout Europe. Well, the maestro was more interested in his own creativity.

The great violinist was born in 1782. My father was an amateur musician. It was he who instilled in his son a love of music and the violin. The boy learned virtuoso playing back in early childhood, and soon in Genoa they could no longer find a teacher who would teach young performer something new.

At the age of sixteen, the difficult stage of his life ended - he ceased to depend on the will of his father. Having broken free, Paganini indulged in the previously inaccessible “joys of life.” It was as if he was making up for lost time. Niccolo began to lead a dissolute life and play not only the violin and guitar, but also cards. The life of the great maestro consisted of concerts, trips, illnesses and all kinds of sexual adventures.

Love works wonders!

In connection with first love Paganini hasn't toured for three years. A certain “Signora Dide” becomes the musician’s muse. The composer writes music, and during this period 12 sonatas for violin and guitar were born.

In 1805, Elisa Bonaparte Bacciocchi took possession of the small duchy Lucca, given to her by Napoleon. She missed the brilliant court she had left in Paris and wanted to have something similar here in Italy. With a practicality worthy of the Bonaparte family, Princess Elisa quickly assembled the court orchestra and invited the “first violin of the Republic of Lucca” to the position of bandmaster-conductor. This is the title of young Paganini won in 1801, competing for the right to play in the cathedral during religious festivals. Simultaneously Niccolo was supposed to teach the violin to Prince Felice Baciocchi, Elisa's husband.

Soon, opening up endless possibilities Niccolo as an unsurpassed composer and wanting to shine in the eyes of the court public, Eliza asked Paganini prepare a surprise for her at the next concert - a little musical joke with a hint of their relationship. AND Paganini composed the famous “Love Duet” (“Love Scene”) for two strings, imitating the dialogue between guitar and violin. The novelty was received with delight, and the august patron no longer asked, but demanded: the maestro must play his next miniature on one string!

Niccolo Paganini - an inexhaustible virtuoso

I liked the idea Niccolo, and a week later the military sonata “Napoleon” was performed at a court concert. The success exceeded all expectations and fueled the imagination even more Paganini– melodies, one more beautiful than the other, flew out from under the composer’s sensitive fingers almost every day. Apotheosis difficult relationship Princess Eliza and her court musician became 24 caprices, written in 1807 in one breath! And to this day this unique composition remains the pinnacle creative heritage Paganini.

This romantic captivity could continue further, but court life was quite burdensome Niccolo. He longed for freedom of action... Their last conversation occurred in 1808. He explained to Eliza that he wanted to maintain his individuality. Although their relationship lasted 4 years, she had no choice but to part with her peacefully. Niccolo…

Touring again and...

The musician returned to performing in Italian cities. His triumphant concert continued in his homeland for 20 years. activity. Moreover, he sometimes acted as a conductor. His playing often caused hysterics in the fair half of the audience, but the ladies flocked to the concerts like moths to a flame. One of the great musician’s novels ended in scandal. Niccolo met a certain Angelina Cavanna. The tailor's daughter collected her last money to go to the concert and watch the mysterious virtuoso. In order to make sure that Satan himself was really speaking to the public, the girl went behind the scenes. It seemed to her that up close she would be able to see some signs evil spirits, surrounding the musician.

Passion flared up suddenly, and after finishing the performances, Paganini invited the girl to go on tour with him to Parma. It soon became clear that Angelina would have a child, and Paganini secretly sent her to friends. The father found his daughter and filed a complaint. Niccolo to court for kidnapping and violence against her. The violinist was arrested and sent to prison. After 9 days they released me and forced me to pay monetary compensation. The tedious trial began. During the time that the court hearings dragged on, the child managed to be born and die, but in the end Paganini got away with just another monetary compensation and a stain on his reputation.

Where is the happiness? Close?

The scandal involving the tailor's daughter taught the amorous musician nothing. 34 year old Niccolo became interested in 22-year-old Antonia Bianchi - young, but talented singer, which Paganini helped with the preparation of the solo performance. Their relationship could not be called simple: Antonia, on the one hand, worshiped Niccolo, on the other hand, she was slightly afraid, but at the same time, without a twinge of conscience, she cheated on him with singers from the choir, young aristocrats and simple shopkeepers. However, Antonia knew how to be gentle. She looked after her touchingly Niccolo When he was sick, she made sure that he did not catch a cold and ate well. The musician felt comfortable with her and tried not to think about cheating. True, her infidelity was so obvious that even a blind man could not fail to notice it. Paganini either he tried to take revenge on Antonia, starting affair after affair, or he kicked him out of the house, but for another quarrel reconciliation always followed.

Loneliness recedes

In 1825, Antonia gave birth to a son, Achilles. Niccolo He doted on his heir; he took pleasure in bathing the child and changing his diapers. If the baby cried for a long time, the father picked up the violin and, remembering his own childhood, extracted from the instrument the singing of birds, the creaking of a cart, or Antonia’s voice - after which the boy immediately calmed down. Relationships after the birth of a child Niccolo and Anthony seemed to be getting better, but it turned out that it was just the calm before the storm. One day the musician overheard Antonia explaining to little Achilles that his father a common person, is associated with good, and maybe not entirely good spirits. This Paganini I couldn’t stand it, and in 1828 he parted with Antonia Bianchi forever, having achieved sole custody of his son.

The Transience of Happiness Niccolo Paganini

Paganini works like a man possessed. He gives one concert after another and asks for unimaginable fees for performances: Niccolo tried to provide his son with a decent future. Endless tours, hard work and too frequent concerts gradually undermined the musician’s health. However, it seemed to the public that magical music pours out of his violin as if by itself.

violin

In 1840, the disease took away Paganini last strength. Dying from tuberculosis, the musician could not even lift his bow and could only pluck the strings of his violin with his fingers. In 1840, at the age of 57, the virtuoso died. The clergy forbade him to be buried because he did not confess. According to one version, they were secretly buried in the town of Val Polcevera, next to country house his father. Only 19 years later, the son of the great violinist Achilles ensured that the remains Paganini were moved to the cemetery in Parma. According to another version, the ashes of a musician long years kept by Eleanor de Luca - the only woman true love. Only to her did he return from time to time. She was the only person, apart from relatives, mentioned in the will of the great violinist.

Paganini often said that he wanted to get married, but he never managed to live a quiet life family life, despite all efforts. But, nevertheless, every woman he met in his life left an indelible mark, reflected in the notes written by the musician.

DATA

Rossini said: “I have had to cry three times in my life: when a production of my opera failed, when a roast turkey fell into the river at a picnic, and when I heard Paganini play.”

“You made me unhappy,” he whispered, gently touching his eternal tormentor with his hand. – She deprived me of a carefree golden childhood, stole my laughter, leaving suffering and tears in return, made me her prisoner for life... My cross and my joy! Who would have known that I paid in full for the talent given to me from above, for the happiness of having you.”

Paganini he never went to bed without taking a last look at the violin enchantress who owned him completely.

In life Paganini He almost did not publish his works, fearing that the secret of his performance would be revealed. He wrote 24 etudes for solo violin, 12 sonatas for violin and guitar, 6 concertos and several quartets for violin, viola, guitar and cello. Separately, he wrote about 200 pieces for guitar.

Updated: April 13, 2019 by: Elena

Niccolo Paganini is one of the greatest violin virtuosos in the history of art. He was born in Genoa on October 27, 1782 and spent a difficult and joyless childhood - under the influence of a stern father, former loader and a shopkeeper who made persistent learning to play the violin almost torture for a child. After her first public debut, nine-year-old Paganini, who already at that age amazed listeners with her extraordinary technique and some elusive originality of playing, was sent by her father to Parma to the then famous virtuoso teacher Rolla; At the same time, he began to study composition and theory under the guidance of Ghiretti.

Bust of Paganini. Sculptor David d'Angers, 1830-1833

In the fall of 1796, Paganini left Parma and, returning to Genoa, began studying alone, without a teacher, working exclusively on playing technique. The results of these studies are known: Paganini’s virtuoso power, which demonstrated something unprecedented, together with the exceptional passion of his playing and its sometimes darkly demonic, sometimes enchanting romantic character, placed him in the history of music at a height not reached by anyone before or after.

In an effort to expand our circle concert activities, Paganini moved to Vienna, which was then the most important center concert music. From this time begins the period of his world fame. Having traveled all over Europe and spent time in concert travel for many years, having had an affair with Napoleon's sister, Eliza, Paganini returned to Genoa in 1834 as a world-famous virtuoso, before whose name everything that was artistic then bowed. Having settled in a villa near Parma, he now only occasionally spoke to the public at charity concerts. IN last years Throughout his life, Paganini suffered from a painful nervous and pulmonary disease (possibly Marfan syndrome), which forced him to move from place to place. He died in Nice on May 27, 1840, leaving his son an inheritance of 2 million francs.

Niccolo Paganini. Best works

By nature, Paganini was a completely withdrawn artist, painfully nervous, unfriendly, and gloomy. His unique, tall, skinny figure, dreamy face, and most importantly, his playing, which omnipotently plunged the listener into all the artist’s changeable moods, were the reason that his contemporaries attributed to him almost supernatural powers, almost witchcraft. Even about Paganini’s favorite violin (by Guarneri), his constant companion, many legends have developed. After the death of Paganini, it (“Paganini’s widow”), according to the will of the maestro, who did not want anyone else to play it, became his property hometown, where it is kept to this day as a shrine.