born Oct. 27, 1782, Genoa, Republic of Genoa
died May 27, 1840, Nice, France
Italian violinist and composer.
A prodigy, he joined an orchestra by age nine. He toured Italy (181028), renowned as its greatest violin virtuoso. His long-deferred international tour (183034) met with sensational success. Paganini's romantic personality and adventures created in his own day the legend of a Mephistophelean figure. He greatly extended violin technique, employing a wide use of harmonics, pizzicato effects, and new methods of fingering and even of tuning. His numerous compositions include 24 Caprices (180107) for solo violin, displaying the novel features of his technique, and six violin concertos.
Paganini, etching by Luigi Calamatta after a drawing by J.-A.-D. Ingres, 1818
The Granger Collection, New York City