A message about Niccolo Paganini. Amazing facts from the life of Niccolo Paganini. Beginning of concert activities

Is there another such artist, whose life and glory would shine with such a bright sunny brilliance, an artist whom the whole world, in its enthusiastic worship, would recognize as the king of all artists?
F. Liszt

In Italy, in the municipality of Genoa, the violin of the brilliant Paganini is kept, which he bequeathed to his hometown. Once a year, according to established tradition, the most famous violinists in the world play on it. Paganini called the violin “my cannon” - this is how the musician expressed his participation in the national liberation movement of Italy, which unfolded in the first third of the 19th century. The frantic, rebellious art of the violinist raised the patriotic sentiments of the Italians and called on them to fight against social lawlessness. For his sympathy with the Carbonari movement and anti-clerical statements, Paganini was nicknamed the “Genoese Jacobin” and persecuted by the Catholic clergy. His concerts were often banned by the police, under whose supervision he was.

Paganini was born into the family of a small merchant. From the age of four, the mandolin, violin and guitar became the musician’s life companions. The future composer's teachers were first his father, a great lover of music, and then G. Costa, the violinist of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Paganini's first concert took place when he was 11 years old. Among the compositions performed, the young musician’s own variations on the theme of the French revolutionary song “Carmagnola” were performed.

Very soon the name Paganini became widely known. He gave concerts throughout Northern Italy and lived in Tuscany from 1801 to 1804. The creation of the famous caprices for solo violin dates back to this period. At the height of his performing fame, Paganini changed his concert activity for several years to court service in Lucca (1805-08), after which he again and finally returned to concertizing. Gradually, the fame of Paganini spread beyond Italy. Many European violinists came to test their strength with him, but none of them could become his worthy competitor.

Paganini's virtuosity was fantastic, its impact on listeners is incredible and inexplicable. For his contemporaries he seemed a mystery, a phenomenon. Some considered him a genius, others a charlatan; Even during his lifetime, his name began to acquire various fantastic legends. This, however, was greatly facilitated by the uniqueness of his “demonic” appearance and the romantic episodes of his biography associated with the names of many noble women.

At the age of 46, at the height of his fame, Paganini travels outside Italy for the first time. His concerts in Europe evoked enthusiastic praise from leading artists. F. Schubert and G. Heine, I. V. Goethe and O. Balzac, E. Delacroix and T. A. Hoffmann, R. Schumann, F. Chopin, G. Berlioz, G. Rossini, J. Meyerbeer and many others were under hypnotic influence Paganini violins. Its sounds announced new era in performing arts. The phenomenon of Paganini had a strong influence on the work of F. Liszt, who called the playing of the Italian maestro a “supernatural miracle.”

Paganini's European tour lasted 10 years. He returned to his homeland as a seriously ill man. After Paganini's death, the papal curia did not give permission for his burial in Italy for a long time. Only many years later, the musician’s ashes were transported to Parma and buried there.

The brightest representative of romanticism in music, Paganini, was at the same time a deeply national artist. His work largely stems from the artistic traditions of Italian folk and professional musical art.

The composer's works are still widely heard today on the concert stage, continuing to captivate listeners with their endless cantilena, virtuoso elementality, passion, and boundless imagination in revealing the instrumental capabilities of the violin. Paganini's most frequently performed works include Campanella (Bell), a rondo from the Second Violin Concerto, and the First Violin Concerto.

The famous “24 Capricci” for solo violin are still considered the crown of virtuoso skill of violinists. Some of Paganini’s variations also remain in the performers’ repertoire - on the themes of the operas “Cinderella”, “Tancred”, “Moses” by G. Rossini, on the theme of the ballet “The Wedding of Benevento” by F. Süssmayer (the composer called this work “The Witches”), as well as virtuoso essays “Venice Carnival” and “Perpetual Motion”.

Paganini was an excellent master not only of the violin, but also of the guitar. Many of his works, written for violin and guitar, are still included in the repertoire of performers.

Paganini's music inspired many composers. Some of his works were arranged for piano by Liszt, Schumann, and K. Riemannowski. The melodies of “Campanella” and the Twenty-fourth Caprice formed the basis for adaptations and variations by composers of various generations and schools: Liszt, Chopin, J. Brahms, S. Rachmaninoff, V. Lutoslawski. The very romantic image of the musician was captured by G. Heine in his story “Florentine Nights”.

Born into the family of a small merchant and music lover. In early childhood, he learned from his father to play the mandolin, then the violin. For some time he studied with G. Costa, the first violinist of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. At the age of 11, he performed an independent concert in Genoa (among the works performed were his own variations on the French revolutionary song “Carmagnola”). In 1797-98 he gave concerts in Northern Italy. In 1801-04 he lived in Tuscany, in 1804-05 - in Genoa. During these years he wrote “24 Capricci” for solo violin, sonatas for violin with guitar accompaniment, string quartets(with guitar). After serving at the court in Lucca (1805-08), Paganini devoted himself entirely to concert activities. During concerts in Milan (1815), a competition took place between Paganini and the French violinist C. Lafon, who admitted himself defeated. It was an expression of the struggle that took place between the old classical school And romantic direction(subsequently, a similar competition in the field of pianistic art took place in Paris between F. Liszt and Z. Thalberg). Paganini's performances (from 1828) in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, England and other countries evoked enthusiastic praise from leading artists (Liszt, R. Schumann, G. Heine, etc.) and established his fame as an unsurpassed virtuoso. Paganini’s personality was surrounded by fantastic legends, which was facilitated by the originality of his “demonic” appearance and the romantic episodes of his biography. The Catholic clergy persecuted Paganini for his anti-clerical statements and sympathy for the Carbonari movement. After Paganini's death, the papal curia did not give permission for his burial in Italy. Only many years later, Paganini’s ashes were transported to Parma. The image of Paganini was captured by G. Heine in the story “Florentine Nights” (1836).

Advanced innovative creativity Paganini is one of the brightest manifestations of musical romanticism, which became widespread in Italian art(including in the patriotic operas of G. Rossini and V. Bellini) under the influence of the national liberation movement. movements of the 10-30s. 19th century The art of Paganini was in many ways related to the work of the French. romantics: comp. G. Berlioz (whom Paganini was the first to highly appreciate and actively supported), the painter E. Delacroix, the poet V. Hugo. Paganini captivated listeners with the pathos of his performance, the brightness of his images, flights of fantasy and drama. contrasts, extraordinary virtuoso scope of play. In his suit the so-called. free imagination revealed the characteristics of Italian. adv. improvisation style. Paganini was the first violinist to perform the conc. programs by heart. Boldly introducing new game techniques, enriching the color scheme. capabilities of the instrument, Paganini expanded the sphere of influence of the skr. art, laid the foundations of modern history. violin playing techniques. He made extensive use of the entire range of the instrument, using finger stretching, jumping, a variety of double note techniques, harmonics, pizzicato, percussive strokes, and playing on one string. Some products Paganini is so difficult that after his death for a long time were considered unplayable (J. Kubelik was the first to play them).

Paganini - outstanding composer. His op. They are distinguished by the plasticity and melodiousness of their melodies and the boldness of their modulations. In his creative work. Heritage highlights include “24 Capricci” for solo violin op. 1 (in some of them, for example, in the 21st capriccio, new principles of melodic development are applied, anticipating the techniques of Liszt and R. Wagner), 1st and 2nd concertos for violin and orchestra (D major, 1811; h-moll, 1826; the final part of the latter is the famous “Campanella”). Variations for opera, ballet and folk songs occupied a large place in Paganini’s work. themes, chamber instruments prod. etc. An outstanding virtuoso on the guitar, Paganini also wrote approx. 200 pieces for this instrument.

In his compositional work, Paganini appears as a deeply nationalist. artist based on narrative Italian traditions music lawsuit The works he created, marked by independence of style, boldness of texture, and innovation, served as the starting point for all subsequent development of skr. lawsuit Associated with the names of Liszt, F. Chopin, Schumann and Berlioz, a revolution in philosophy. performance and art of instrumentation, which began in the 30s. 19th century, was in means. least caused by the influence of Paganini's lawsuit. It also affected the formation of a new melodic style. language characteristic of romantic. music. Paganini's influence can be indirectly traced in the 20th century. (1st concert for violin and orchestra by Prokofiev; such short works as “Myths” by Szymanowski, conc. fantasy “The Gypsy” by Ravel). Some secrets prod. Paganini processed for FP. Liszt, Schumann, J. Brahms, S. V. Rachmaninov.

Since 1954, it has been held annually in Genoa international competition violinists named after Paganini.

Essays:

for violin solo- 24 capricci op. 1 (1801-07; ed. Mil., 1820), introduction and variations How the heart skips a beat (Nel cor pish non mi sento, on a theme from the opera “The Beautiful Miller's Wife” by Paisiello, 1820 or 1821); for violin and orchestra- 5 concerts (D-dur, op. 6, 1811 or 1817-18; h-moll, op. 7, 1826, ed. P., 1851; E-dur, without op., 1826; d-moll, without op., 1830, ed. Mil., 1954; a-moll, begun in 1830), 8 sonatas (1807-28, including Napoleon, 1807, on one string; Spring, Primavera, 1838 or 1839), Perpetual Motion (Il moto perpetuo, op. 11, after 1830), Variations (The Witch, La streghe, on a theme from the ballet “The Wedding of Benevento” by Süssmayr, op. 8, 1813; Prayer, Preghiera, on a theme from the opera “Moses” by Rossini , on one string, 1818 or 1819; At the hearth I am no longer sad, Non piu mesta accanto al fuoco, on a theme from the opera Cinderella by Rossini, op. 12, 1819; Heart flutter, Di tanti palpiti, on a theme from the opera "Tancred" by Rossini, op. 13, probably 1819); for viola and orchestra- sonata for grand viola(probably 1834); for violin and guitar- 6 sonatas, op. 2 (1801-06), 6 sonatas, op. 3 (1801-06), Cantabile (d-moll, edition in script for script and ph., W., 1922); for guitar and violin- sonata (1804, published by Fr./M., 1955/56), Grand Sonata (published by Lpz. - W., 1922); chamber instrumental ensembles- Concert trio for viola, high. and guitars (Spanish 1833, edition 1955-56), 3 quartets, op. 4 (1802-05, ed. Mil., 1820), 3 quartets, op. 5 (1802-05, ed. Mil., 1820) and 15 quartets (1818-20; ed. quartet No. 7, Fr./M., 1955/56) for viola, viola, guitar and vulch, 3 quartets for 2nd sc., viola and vlch. (1800s, ed. quartet E-dur, Lpz., 1840s); vocal-instrumental, vocal compositions, etc.

Literature:

Yampolsky I., Paganini - guitarist, “SM”, 1960, No. 9; him, Niccolo Paganini. Life and creativity, M., 1961, 1968 (notography and chronograph); his, Capricci N. Paganini, M., 1962 (B-ka concert listener); Ralmin A. G., Niccolo Paganini. 1782-1840. Brief biographical sketch. A book for youth, Leningrad, 1961.

I. M. Yampolsky

Niccolo Paganini (1782─1840) - outstanding Italian composer, violinist, guitarist, who had an extraordinary musical gift. He was a master of musical instruments, amazing the audience with the highest skill and purity of performance. Paganini is a recognized classic of musical variations. Many are familiar with his compositions on the themes of the operas “Moses”, “Cinderella”, “Tancred”. The pinnacle of the maestro’s creativity is considered to be “24 Capricci”, “Venice Carnival”, “ Perpetual motions».

Childhood and youth

Niccolo Paganini was born on October 27, 1782 in a small quarter of Italian Genoa called “Black Cat” in the family of Antonio Paganini and his wife Teresa. He turned out to be the second child and with early childhood was very painful.

Once in a dream, Niccolo’s mother, who was a very sentimental woman, saw an angel in her dream who predicted her son’s future as a great musician. Since childhood, his parents forced him to play the violin, especially since his older brother Carlo was not particularly talented in this matter. Therefore, Niccolo had to take the rap for two. All his early years were devoted to monotonous learning the art of playing this musical instrument.

Nature has rewarded the Italian with a huge gift - the finest hearing, capable of picking up the smallest details in sound. Every day the boy opened the world with the help of numerous musical tones, which he perceived with particular acuteness. He tried to reproduce them on a magdalene, a guitar or on his favorite little violin, which over time turned into a part of the musician’s soul.

The father discovered his son's talent early, counting on him winning fame and fortune. Therefore, little Niccolo was forced to play in the closet, constantly improving his skills. For the slightest sins, the child was deprived of food. All this negatively affected the boy’s fragile health. Already at the age of 8, Paganini wrote a violin sonata and several trumpet variations. Over time, the talented musician attracted attention, and he was noticed by the first violinist of the local choir, D. Kosto, who began to study with the young talent. Within six months, he passed on invaluable experience to his student, which allowed him to appear on stage for the first time.

First concerts

First public speaking musician took place in May 1795 at the local theater of Sant'Agostino, the funds from which were to go towards a trip to Parma to study with the famous violinist A. Rolla. Here his “Variations on a Theme of Carmagnola” were performed, which were a success with the public. Soon a similar concert was given in Florence, which added the missing money. So Paganini’s father and son ended up in Parma with A. Rolla, but he was sick and did not want to accept anyone.

While waiting for the master, the boy took the violin that was lying in the next room and played Roll's recently written work on it, to the latter's admiration. He stated that he would not teach the teenager anything and advised him to contact F. Paer, but he, busy with musical productions, introduced Paganini to the talented cellist G. Ghiretti, who became his new mentor. He forced his student to create works without an instrument, relying only on his inner ear.

In 1797, Niccolo and his father went on their first concert tour of Europe. Their route ran through Milan, Florence, Pisa, Bologna and Livorno. His performances, which were a huge success in every city, inspired the musician to new achievements. It was at this time that he wrote most his famous 24 caprices, in which he demonstrated the greatness of his artistic imagination. The unusual interweaving of mind-blowing virtuosity with grotesque images and powerful dynamics made his musical works inimitable.

Independent life

collapsed on young man fame began to be burdened by the influence of his father, and at the first opportunity Niccolo left parents' house, becoming the first violinist in Lucca. He passionately devotes himself to his work, leading the city orchestra and giving concerts at the same time. At this time, the musician begins to enjoy many of the joys of life, playing cards and indulging in love. Infatuated with a certain “Senora Dide,” he even leaves touring for several years, only “feeling the strings of the guitar with pleasure.”

In 1804, Paganini returned to creativity, but the very next year he began to serve as court violinist in Lucca. F. Bacciocchi ruled here, whose wife was Napoleon's sister Princess Eliza, with whom the musician developed a passionate relationship. Since 1808, he resumed touring activities.

In 1814, Niccolo gives concerts in his homeland. Here he is greeted with great warmth, calling him nothing less than a genius. The audience was amazed by the extraordinary ease of playing the violin and the virtuoso performance of complex parts. It is no coincidence that the musician was repeatedly invited to perform in famous theater"La Scala".

In 1821, Paganini again left concert activity due to a large bouquet of aggravated illnesses - rheumatism, tuberculosis, intestinal and stomach pain. This forces him to move to Pavia closer to the famous doctor S. Borda. Bloodletting, a strict diet and rubbing ointments did not help immediately. Due to a surge of weakness, the musician did not risk picking up the violin for a long time, and his only outlet was private lessons with the son of a Genoese merchant, young K. Sivori.

Having overcome illnesses, except for an “unbearable cough,” Paganini performed in Milan, Pavia and Genoa in 1824. A little later, the musician creates new works - “Military Sonata”, “Polish Variations”, and with them three concertos for violin, the most famous of which was the second with the famous ronda “Campanella”.

At the zenith of glory

In the period from 1828 to 1834, Paganini gave many concerts in the largest halls of the Old World. He is applauded by both the general public and a large galaxy of artists, including F. Chopin, R. Schumann, F. Schubert, G. Heine, I. Goethe. Austrian composer F. Liszt generally called Niccolo’s playing a “supernatural miracle.” In later concerts, to the delight of the audience, he increasingly plays with guitar accompaniment.

During his stay in Vienna, Paganini composed “Variations on the Austrian Hymn” and planned to create his main masterpiece, “The Venetian Carnival”. In 1830, thinking about the future of his son, the musician acquired the title of baron, which would be inherited by his son.

In 1829-1831, Paganini toured Germany. In a year and a half, he gave more than a hundred concerts in 30 cities. Here he completed work on the 4th and 5th concerts, and also wrote the work “Love Gallant Sonata”. Then there was France, and again a huge success. Here Niccolo composes again, dedicating 60 variations to his friend Jeremy folk song“Barucaba”, a serenade for guitar, violin and cello for his sister Dominica, and a sonata for the daughter of his patron de Negro.

Secrets and mysteries of Paganini

The musician often declared certain secrets of his performance, which he would reveal only after the end of his career. This is also related to his reluctance to publish own compositions, which will supposedly be able to declassify his secret. Some particularly zealous spectators saw Satan on the musician’s shoulder during the performance, others saw him fly to heaven in a carriage along with his retinue.

He became the first to use violin playing by heart rather than by notes at concerts. Constant practice of playing musical instruments made it possible to develop phenomenal strength in the wrist muscles, so Paganini could easily break a porcelain plate with two fingers.

Niccolo was a virtuoso performer. Once, on a dare, he brilliantly conducted an opera, playing a two-string violin. And on next day After the birth of Napoleon, he performed the sonata of the same name only on the fourth string. According to D.F. Oistrakh, the Paganini phenomenon lies in an extraordinary combination of talent, temperament and hard work, which made it possible to use psychophysiological qualities to the maximum.

After his death, the church opposed the burial of the musician’s remains in a Christian cemetery, since he refused to receive communion. The reason for this action of Paganini was clear - he claimed that he would not die and would live forever.

Personal life

Relationships with the female sex are one of the mysterious pages his biography. Not much is known about his first novel. A certain lady, passionate about the guitar, took the young Paganini to her Tuscan castle, where he lived for several years. Then his fate brought him together with Napoleon’s older sister Eliza, who was the princess of Lucca and Piombino at the beginning of the 19th century. The musician was very pleased with his relationship with an ugly but noble woman, thanks to whose patronage he began to regularly appear at court.

After spending three years next to Eliza, Paganini received permission to leave her, and soon his fate brought him together with another sister of the emperor, Polina Bonaparte. Their romance was very stormy, passionate and short. Indulging in lovemaking in Turin's Stupingi Castle, they quickly lost interest in each other, and the flighty Polina quickly found a replacement musician.

And then young Angelina Cavanna appeared in Paganini’s life, because of whom he almost went to prison. The father of a girl who became pregnant by Niccolo accused him of kidnapping and raping his daughter. The court ordered the musician to pay a fine, but this could not change the fate of the child, who died a year and a half before the end of the trial.

The maestro's new passion was the singer Antonia Bianca, whom Paganini decided to teach to sing at the beginning of their acquaintance. In 1825, she would give birth to his heir, Achille, but relations with Antonia would only worsen. In his letters, Niccolo more than once mentioned the frenzy of his girlfriend, who could easily throw the case with the violin. Dealing with many women great musician managed to maintain his independence, fully justifying the once spoken phrase: “Freedom is the greatest good for a man”.

The last chord

Paganini's contemporaries wrote that after the concerts the musician experienced convulsions similar to an epileptic seizure - his muscles cramped, his body temperature dropped, and his pulse froze. Niccolo himself called this state “electricity” that appeared in him and which “painfully torments, but comes out of me at the concert with divine harmony.” The first signs of a serious illness began to actively appear in 1834, which is why the maestro interrupted his performances. Two years later he plays several concerts in Nice, after which he becomes very ill.

Shortly before Paganini's death, in a very in serious condition visits his native Genoa.

The last six months of his life he was extremely exhausted, so he could not hold a bow in his hands. His beloved violin was left without magic wand, and the musician plucked its strings with weakened fingers. Died great composer and musician on May 27, 1840 in Nice. At first, the church prevented his burial in Italy. Permission was received only in 1876, after which Paganini’s ashes were reburied in Parma.

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Niccolò Paganini (Italian Niccolò Paganini; October 27, 1782 - May 27, 1840) was an Italian virtuoso violinist and composer.

One of the most prominent personalities musical history XVIII-XIX centuries. Recognized genius of world musical art.

You have to feel strongly for others to feel.

Paganini Niccolo

From the age of six, Paganini played the violin, and at the age of nine he performed a concert in Genoa, which was a huge success. As a boy, he wrote several works for the violin, which were so difficult that no one but himself could perform them.

At the beginning of 1797, Paganini and his father undertook their first concert tour of Lombardy. His fame as an outstanding violinist grew extraordinary. Soon getting rid of his father's strict rule, he, left to his own devices, led a stormy life, which affected both his health and reputation. However, the extraordinary talent of this violinist aroused envious people everywhere, who did not neglect any means to harm Paganini’s success in any way. His fame increased even more after traveling through Germany, France and England. In Germany he even received the title of baron. In Vienna, no artist was as popular as Paganini. Although the fee at the beginning XIX century far inferior to the current ones, but nevertheless Paganini left behind several million francs.

For the last five months, Paganini could not leave the room, his legs were swollen, and he was so exhausted that he could not pick up a bow; the violin lay nearby, and he plucked its strings with his fingers.

The name of Paganini was surrounded by some kind of mystery, which he himself contributed to by talking about some extraordinary secrets of his playing, which he would make public only at the end of his career. During Paganini's lifetime, very few of his works were published, because the author was afraid that by printing many of his virtuoso secrets might be discovered. The mystery of Paganini aroused such superstition that the bishop of Nice, where Paganini died, refused a funeral mass, and only the intervention of the pope destroyed this decision.

Paganini's unsurpassed success lay not in the deep musical talent of this artist, but in his extraordinary technique, in the impeccable purity with which he performed the most difficult passages, and in the new horizons of violin technique that he opened. Working diligently on the works of Corelli, Vivaldi, Tartini, Viotti, he was aware that the rich means of the violin had not yet been fully grasped by these authors. The work of the famous Locatelli “L`Arte di nuova modulazione” gave Paganini the idea of ​​using various new effects in violin technique. The variety of colors, the wide use of natural and artificial harmonics, the rapid alternation of pizzicato with arco, the amazing skillful and varied use of staccato, the wide use of double and triple strings, the remarkable variety of use of the bow, the playing of entire pieces on one string (the fourth) - all this was surprising. an audience exposed to hitherto unheard-of violin effects. Paganini was a true virtuoso with a highly individual personality, basing his playing on original techniques, which he performed with infallible purity and confidence. Paganini had a precious collection of Stradivarius, Guarneri, Amati violins, of which he bequeathed his wonderful and most beloved violin by Guarneri to his hometown of Genoa, not wanting any other artist to play it.

On October 27, 1782, a boy was born into a poor Genoese family, who was named Niccolo. Among his brothers and sisters, he stood out for his poor health, as well as his genuine interest in music. Already with early years the boy tested the patience of his loved ones by endlessly playing music on the mandolin.

The father, who loved music very much, began independent studies with son. From the very first lessons, he realized that the boy was very talented and had the finest musical ear. For children, the elder Paganini was a real despot: he treated Niccolo extremely cruelly, forcing him to play the instrument for a long time, and in case of disobedience, he deprived him of a piece of bread and locked him in a dark closet. Such measures led to extreme exhaustion of the child, who was on the verge of death.

Frightened, his father gave Niccolo a small violin and invited a teacher, a professional violinist, who managed to quickly develop the boy’s talent. Already at the age of 8, Nicollo wrote his first violin sonata and brilliantly performed it in front of his relatives.

Rumors about a talented child reached Giacomo Costa, the main violinist of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. He undertook to teach Niccolo, and within six months he taught him all the intricacies of playing the violin.

Creation

The meeting with Giacomo turned out to be fateful. New horizons opened up for the talented young man. IN at a young age he had already begun giving his first concerts, impressing the audience with his playing of the instrument.

Meanwhile, the elder Paganini, realizing that he could make good money from his son’s extraordinary talent, became his impresario and began preparing his tour of Northern Italy. Concerts of the gifted violinist took place in Milan, Pisa, Bologna, Livorno, and Florence, and invariably sold out.

By that time, Niccolo had already created his masterpiece capriccios, thereby making a real revolution in violin music. He managed to achieve incredible expressiveness and artistic power in his works, which aroused genuine delight in the listener.

Endlessly tired of his cruel despot father, the matured Niccolo began independent life. Feeling free for the first time, he began performing concerts not only in his native Italy, but also in many European countries.

Paganini managed to make a breakthrough in the art of violin playing. He amazed the audience with his filigree technique, using techniques such as playing on two and even one string. His innovations were so technically complex that they were long thought to be impossible to replicate. The maestro wrote music not only for the violin, but also for the guitar.

IN short biography Paganini stated that he loved the violin so much that throughout his life he collected instruments of famous violin makers. Niccolo bequeathed his instrument to his native Genoa, where it is kept to this day.

Personal life

Possessing a very unpresentable appearance, Niccolo Paganini enjoyed great success among women. Throughout his life he had many affairs, none of which culminated in marriage. The only child of the great violinist was the boy Achilles - the fruit of the love of Paganini and opera singer Antonia Bianchi.

Death

Selfless dedication to music greatly undermined the musician’s already weak health. IN last years During his life he suffered from tuberculosis, which caused his death on May 27, 1840.

• At his concerts, Paganini staged such enchanting performances that the most impressionable listeners lost consciousness.
• During performances, Niccolo wielded the instrument so obsessively that even broken strings did not stop him.
• With his violin playing, the musician brilliantly imitated the playing of other instruments, human speech, birdsong, for which he was nicknamed the “Southern Sorcerer”.
• Paganini flatly refused to compose Catholic psalms, as a result of which he constantly clashed with the clergy.
• The violinist suffered from a severe gambling addiction, and sometimes lost entire fortunes. He was able to get rid of the addiction only after the birth of an heir.

Name: Niccolo Paganini

Age: 57 years old

Activity: violinist, composer

Family status: was divorced

Niccolo Paganini: biography

The mystical violinist, whose hands were guided by Satan himself, is still own works excites people's hearts and makes them think about the innermost, although many years have passed since the death of the genius.

In the late autumn of 1782, a second child was born into a poor Genoese family, who was named Niccolo. The parents were very worried about the baby since the baby was born ahead of schedule and was sickly and frail. Father's house Niccolo stood in a narrow alley called the Black Cat. Antonio Paganini (father) in his youth worked as a loader at the port, but a little later he opened his own shop. Teresa Bocciardo (mother) was in charge of the household.

One day Teresa dreamed of an angel who predicted a brilliant musical future for her second child. When the woman told her husband about the dream, he was incredibly happy, because he himself loved music. Antonio constantly played music on the mandolin, which greatly annoyed his neighbors and wife. The man instilled love for musical instruments older child, but was not successful.

Father, believing in prophetic dream, began intensively studying violin lessons with Niccolo. From the first lessons it becomes clear that the child is naturally gifted with the finest hearing. Therefore, the baby’s childhood years were spent in exhausting activities, from which he even ran away. But dad took extreme measures, locking his son in a dark barn and depriving him of a piece of bread. The child was forced to play the instrument for many hours at a time, which led to catalepsy. Doctors confirmed death, and the grief-stricken parents began the funeral procedure.

But at the farewell ceremony a miracle happened - Niccolo woke up and sat up in the coffin. As soon as the baby recovered, Antonio again handed him his favorite tormenting toy - the violin. Now the man has stopped independent lessons with his son and invited a teacher, who became the Genoese violinist Francesco Gnecco. Paganini began early to create the first compositions of his own composition. Thus, already at the age of 8, he delighted his relatives with a violin sonata.

Rumors spread around the town that a talented musician was growing up in the poor family of shopkeeper Paganini. This news did not go unnoticed by the chief violinist of the chapel of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, who decided to personally verify the boy’s genius. After listening, Giacomo Costa offered his own services in development young talent. Costa trained Niccolò for six months, imparting to him the skills and secrets of the art.

Music

After classes with Giacomo, the child’s life changed beyond recognition, now his biography is full of meetings with creative people. The road to concert activity opened before the young man. In 1794, the Polish virtuoso August Duranovsky performed in Genoa, who so inspired young violinist that he decided to give his own concert. After this, the Marquis Giancarlo di Negro, who was known as a famous music lover, became interested in the boy. Having learned that a gifted child is growing up in a poor family, the Marquis takes on the responsibility of raising and supporting Niccolo.

Giancarlo di Negro pays for the services of a new teacher for the boy. He became the popular cellist Gasparo Ghiretti, who taught Pagagini compositional technique and developed in him the ability to compose music without an instrument. Under such guidance, the young man composed two violin concertos and 24 fugues for piano four hands.

In 1800, Paganini began serious work and gave 2 concerts in Parma. After this, he is invited to the court of Duke Ferdinand of Bourbon, where the young man confidently performs. At this moment, Antonio Paganini realizes that it is time to make money from his son’s talent. Having become an impresario, he organizes tours of Northern Italy.

The talented young man gives concerts in Pisa, Florence, Bologna, Milan, and Livorno. Huge halls gather in cities, people want to see the young violinist. But despite the difficult tours, the father insists on Niccolo constantly playing music, who is already creating masterpiece capriccios. These 24 caprices revolutionized the world of violin music. The hand of a genius touched Locatelli’s dry formulas, and the works sparkled with fresh, sparkling images and paintings. No other violinist could do this. Each miniature of 24 sounds incomparable, causing the listener to laugh, and cry, and wild horror at the same time.

Tired of his authoritarian and cruel father, the matured young man decided to live independently. At this moment he was offered the position of first violinist in Lucca, and in order to get rid of parental care, Niccolò agrees. This moment is described in his diaries, where he shares his impressions of the feeling of intoxicating freedom and the sensation of wings behind his back. This was reflected in the concerts, which sounded ardent and passionate. Now the life of a genius has turned into a series of trips, card games and sexual adventures.

Niccolò Paganini returns to Genoa in 1804. Having stayed in his homeland for a short time, he managed to create 12 violin and guitar sonatas. After this, he again went to the Duchy of Felice Baciocchi, where he worked as an orchestra conductor and chamber pianist. In 1808, he followed the rest of the courtiers to Florence. The musician spent seven years at court, interrupting his service only during tours. This dependence unnerved the young man so much that he decided to take a desperate act in order to get rid of the noble shackles.

Having appeared at the concert in a captain's uniform and flatly refusing to change, he was expelled from the palace by his sister. At that moment, the French commander was defeated by Russian troops, and the violinist’s act so excited society that he miraculously escaped arrest. Further creative path continues in Milan. At the La Scala theater, he was so enchanted by the dance of the witches from the ballet “The Wedding of Benevento” that in one evening he wrote variations for orchestral violin on this theme.

In 1821, Paganini interrupted his concert activities due to a protracted debilitating illness. Things are so bad that the man asks his mother to come so he can say goodbye. The mother makes efforts to save her son and transports him to Pavia. Here the violinist is treated by Ciro Borda, who performs bloodletting on the patient, rubs in mercury ointment and writes a personal diet.

But Niccolo is tormented by several diseases at once: fever, cough, tuberculosis, rheumatism and intestinal spasms. Even a famous doctor cannot cope with the disease. Even during illness, the talented musician does not give up creativity and plucks the guitar strings with weak hands, thinking over compositions. Mother’s prayers are not in vain, and the man gets better, although the hacking cough remains for years.

Having grown stronger, Paganini gives 5 concerts in Pavia and composes 20 new works. In subsequent years, the man travels, performing in Germany, Rome, Westphalia, and France. Now tickets to Paganini cost a lot of money, the talented violinist earns a fortune and even buys himself the title of baron.

Personal life

Despite his unpresentable appearance, Niccolo Paganini had no shortage of mistresses. Looking at the photo, contemporaries are surprised how he managed it. Yellowish face, sharp nose, coal-black eyes and confused dark hair is a portrait of a great musician. The young man had barely turned 20 when he had a lady who took the violinist to her own estate in the evenings to relax after concerts.

The man's next muse is Elisa Bonaparte Bacciocchi, who brought her beloved closer to the court and supported him in every possible way. The relationship began uneasy, but so passionate that during this period the violinist wrote 24 caprices in one breath. The sketches reveal everything that the young man felt for the beautiful princess: pain, fear, love, hatred and delight. This work still haunts listeners, many of whom believe that at that moment the composer’s hand was controlled by the devil himself.

After breaking up with Eliza, Niccolo returned to tour, where he met Angelina Cavanna. The girl is the daughter of a tailor and gave her last money for the opportunity to see the great virtuoso. Since the musician was shrouded in mystical rumors, Angelina decided to see for herself the “Satanism” of the violinist and made her way backstage. The young people instantly fell in love with each other. In order not to part with her lover, the beauty went on a joint tour to Parma, without even notifying her father. After 2 months, she delighted her roommate with the news that she would soon become a mother.

The musician sends his girlfriend to Genoa to stay with relatives, where her father finds her. The tailor accused Paganini of corrupting his daughter and filed a lawsuit. During legal proceedings Angelina gave birth, but the child died. The violinist paid monetary compensation to the Kavanno family.

Three months later, the amorous violinist began a relationship with singer Antonia Bianchi, who performed on the LaScala stage. The couple lived so strangely that they repeatedly attracted the attention of others. Antonia loved Niccolo, but constantly cheated on him. The girl explained this by saying that the man was often sick and she lacked attention. The singer did not hide her own betrayals. The beloved also did not remain in debt and started affairs with anyone.

In 1825, the couple had a son, who was named Achilles. The violinist, who dreams of children, was incredibly happy about this fact. To create conditions for the child and provide later life, the young father plunged into creativity and earning capital. Without forgetting to pay attention to the beloved Achilles. The couple separated when the child was 3 years old. Niccolo achieved sole custody of the baby.

Despite his love affairs, he is attached to only one woman - Eleanor de Luca. From youth to maturity, the man visited his beloved, who meekly accepted her prodigal friend.

Death

In the autumn of 1839, Paganini came to visit Genoa, but the trip was not easy. The great virtuoso was crippled by tuberculosis, due to which the man was tormented by a debilitating cough and swelling of his legs. The last months before his death he did not even leave the house. In 1840, illness consumed Niccolo, who, on his deathbed, fingered the strings of his favorite violin, unable to lift the bow. The great musician died that same year.

According to one version, the clergy forbade the burial of the body due to the fact that the man did not confess before his death. Paganini was cremated, and Eleonora de Luca kept the ashes. From another source it follows that Niccolo was buried in Val Polcevere, and 19 years later Achilles achieved the burial of his father’s remains in the Parma cemetery.

• In 2013, the film “The Devil's Violinist” was released, based on the biography of Paganini.
• He knew how to “talk” with strings.
• Got carried away gambling, leaving their last money in gambling houses.
• He staged such shows at concerts that some listeners lost consciousness.

• One violin replaced the orchestra.
• He categorically refused to write psalms.
• Belonged to the Society of Masons.
• Didn't write down my own compositions on paper
• Didn’t stop playing if the strings on the violin broke. Sometimes even one string was enough for a masterpiece performance.
• He was known as a great sensualist.

Discography

• 24 caprices for solo violin, Op.1, 1802-1817.
• Six Sonatas for Violin and Guitar, Op. 2
• Six sonatas for violin and guitar
• 15 quartets for violin, guitar, viola and cello
• Concertos for violin and orchestra No. 1-6
• Le Streghe
• Introduction with variations on the theme “God protects the king”
• Venice Carnival
• Concert Allegro Moto Perpetuo
• Variations on the theme Non pi? Mesta
• Variations on the theme Di tanti Palpiti
• 60 variations in all tunings on the Genoese folk song Barucaba
• Cantabile, D major
• Moto Perpetuo (Perpetual Motion)
• Cantabile and waltz
• Sonata for large viola