LIFE: Legend – Paganini

Opening Act

Niccolò Paganini. Wild child.

Opening Act

Tracing the story of Niccolò Paganini’s early years it is apparent that he was destined from birth to become the most famous violinist that ever lived. The events and circumstances of his young boyhood were extraordinary and by no means the norm during the years he lived. His talent was discovered by his father at a very early age and he was enslaved to his father’s pipe dream of wanting to make his fortune off his extraordinary talent.

Young Niccolò was forced to practice the violin from 12 to 14 hours a day. Because of this strict, grueling schedule at home accompanied by the lessons that he received, and most importantly, his own innate talent, Nicolo ….did indeed , become the most accomplished composer and virtuoso violinist that the world had ever seen.

Of Italian descent, Nicolo Paganini was born to Teresa and Antonio Paganini on October 27, 1782 in the city of Genoa, Italy. He was the third of six children. While in labor his mother is said to have had a vision of a glowing angelic figure who spoke to her saying that her child would be the world’s greatest violinist. She did not have this vision for any of her other children. However, what did not work inNiccolò ’s favor is that he was born into a poverty stricken household with poor hygenic conditions and he experienced many childhood ailments.

At the age of four he was pronounced dead by a physician, but his mother, being the devout Catholic she was, prayed and prayed until he came out of his coma and survived. His poor health would follow him throughout his life.

Antonio Paganini, Niccolò ’s father held a lowly position at the harbor in Genoa. Antonio was a gambler always trying to find a way to make a fortune without the drudgery of hard work. He was a musician and played the mandolin for his gambling cronies at the local taverns and at times he would play at home. Niccolò as a young child begged his father to teach him to play. Antonio taught him to play the mandolin by the age of seven Nicolo began playing the violin.

At the age of 8, and with the help of his father,Niccolò composed his first sonata . He progressed so rapidly that it didn’t take long for his father to see the opportunity to make money off of his talent.

His “pipe-dream” could soon become a reality! And from that point on the pressure was heavy on such a delicate child. Between the fear of his father’s iron hand and the strong encouragement from his mother due to her heavenly vision,

Niccolò Paganini’s whole world become the violin. In addition to his rigid schedule of practicing at home, from morning until night, he also received music lessons from the best instructors in Genoa.

By the age of 11, Niccolò was deceived by his father into believing he was only 9, so that Antonio could make Niccolò into more of a remarkable talent to further accelerate his pipe dream of making a fortune off his son.

Antonio arranged for Niccolò to take lessons from a violin player named Giovanni Servetto, of the local theater orchestra, but in a short time Niccolò surpassed the lessons he was getting from him so his father made an arrangement with Giocoma Costa, the local Chapter Master at the Cathedral of S. Lorenzo. In order to cover the costs for his tuition, Niccolò had to play in the church several times a week. His teacher, Costa, encouraged Niccolò to try out his newest compositions which served to enhance Niccolò ’s advancement. It was here that Niccolò’s world became to open up giving him something of an education and he learned the art of conversation.

In 1793,Niccolò Paganini is 11 years of age and his father receives a visit from Luigi Marchesi and Teresa Bertinotti, two celebrated singers of that time. They were going to be performing at a theater in Genoa and asked if Niccolò could play and help l to fill in the program. They offered a generous fee and Antonio agreed and persuaded them to do more concerts with Niccolò .

The success of these concerts brought Niccolò his first patron, Marchese di Negro, who became very interested in Niccolò and his remarkable talent. This ignited a spark that eventually led Niccolò lo to travel to Parma to meet Allassandro Rolla, who had the reputation of being the best violinist in all of Italy at that time. Traveling for Niccolò was difficult due to his delicate state of health, but Niccolò went with his father to meet the famous Allasandro Rolla of Parma. While the account of his visit has had many interpretations, Niccolò spent a year in Parma and that was the most important year in his musical education, bringing him to the elite class of becoming a player and composer. After this Antonio realized it was time for Niccolò to begin his concert tours.

In 1797 Niccolò Paganini was just fifteen years old when he set out with his father to have successful concerts in Parma, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Pisa, and more throughout Italy.

When returning home Niccolò dreamed of freedom from his father’s tyranny. He realized at this time his only escape lay in his violin and he practiced “feverishly” and non-stop until he could no longer play and would fall onto his bed into a deep sleep. The house was filled with the sound of his violin from the early hours into the night. This lasted several months until Autumn of 1897. It was then that he felt ready to go off on his own.

Niccolò Paganini then made arrangements to travel with his brother, Luigi, several years older than him and his father allowed Niccolò to go. Off they went and for the first time Niccolò felt a sense of freedom he not yet known. Somewhat intimidating, Niccolò Paganini also began to feel that he was now control of his own life. The first appearance was at the Festival of St. Martin, Lucca . He was well-received – the audience was struck by his talent at such a young age! From there he went to other towns and as he traveled from place to place he was at last on his way to fame and fortune, but that was to bring other challenges his way.

Compiled by Carol Tebo (Paganini)

Stardom

Original Classic Rocker

Stardom

Niccolò Paganini’s stardom came very early in his lifetime and his fame followed him wherever he went. It began in Italy and then he went on to becoming a worldwide sensation. He acquired true fame and fortune and around the year 1813 when the name ‘Paganini ‘ became a household word and people wanted to know when they could see him perform! He captivated and transfixed audiences whenever he performed, some people swearing they saw the devil himself, and for his tender passages he brought tears to the eyes of his listeners. He is considered to be world’s greatest virtuoso violinist and composer that ever lived. Perhaps the first “rock star. “

At the age of 13 Paganini was already a well-known established musician in his home town of Genoa, Italy. He had surpassed all the abilities of his teachers there and had to further expand his knowledge by traveling to Parma and to meet Alessandro Rolla, who was said to be the finest violinist and teacher at the time. After spending two years in Parma being taught and guided by Rollo and two other expert teachers, Niccolò learned the art of composition and counterpoint. After his studies and his new compositions, he performed in Parma and Colorno and began his fame and fortune at the age of just 15.

Niccolò Paganini’s first official touring began in Italy in 1797 with concerts in Milan, Bologna, Florence, Pisa and Leghorn. He captivated audiences with his spell-binding music and extraordinary talent. It then became obvious to Nicolo that he could break away from the oppressive clutches of his slave- driving father, who from the start wanted to make his fortune off of the still young Niccolò .

So Niccolò set out to Lucca with his brother, Luigi, and performed at the Festival of Santa Croce in 1801. He was an instant success there and settled in Lucca. He was appointed first violin of the Republic of Lucca. In 1805, Niccolò was also appointed as the second Court Violinist and violin tutor to the husband of Napoleon’s sister, the Princess of Lucca. While under the employment of the Princess of Lucca, he received his first big break when he gave a recital at Teatro alla Scala in Milan in October of 1813. He performed over a hundred concerts throughout Italy and at this time he gained the attention of musicians of Europe and thus, began his fame to be the foremost violinist in Europe.

By 1828 Niccolò began his first European tour that started in Vienna and throughout major cities in Germany. He settled in Strasbourg, Germany until 1831. His success there led to a “formation of a cult” where everything was ‘a la Paganini.’

In 1832, Niccolò Paganini toured in Great Britain, England and Scotland earning huge amounts of money! He settled in Paris for a year and began to suffer various ailments. His stardom did bring him great fortune, but at times it was misused with his unrefined, non-traditional lifestyle. Niccolò returned to his hometown of Genoa in 1836 to publish his compositions and had more successful concert appearances audiences and flocked to see him perform.

Niccolò Paganini set off to Paris in 1838 where he had an unsuccessful attempt at opening a gambling casino. Throughout his life and much like his own father, he was known to be a gambler and due to his declining health in his later years, Niccolò tried to have a casino of his own which was not successful and he moved to Marsielles and then to Nice, France where he died.

Accomplishments and Recognition
In 1813 Niccolò Paganini performed “The Witches Dance” in Turin, which is said to have been one of the most “breathtaking exhibitions of pyrotechnics ever presented on the violin” and the success of this led to his international fame.

In 1827 Niccolò Paganini was conferred with the Order of the Golden Spur by Pope Leo XII.

In 1828, while in Vienna Niccolò Paganini was awarded with the honorary title of Chamber Virtuoso by the Emperor and received the medal of St. Salvator.

Niccolò Paganini is best remembered for his “24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op 1” he wrote in three groups. (between the years 1802 and 1817) Commissioned by the city of Genoa, the work was first published in 1982 on the occasion of his bicentenary.

One can visit the city of Genoa, the birthplace of Niccolò Paganini, that has marked 11 places that that tell the story with a commemorative plaque to describe the significance of the site. It is there you can view his most treasured violin.

Compiled by Carol Tebo (Paganini)

Challenges

Gamble. Drink. Love.

Challenges

At age 4 Niccolò Paganini suffered a child type ailment after which he had a seizure and fell into a deep coma and almost died. He recovered but from that day on his health was erratic and resulted in health issues.

His father looked upon Niccolò as a source of income which consequently put pressure on Niccolò causing a strain in their relationship. He realized that the only way to escape his parental prison, was to excel on his violin. So as a teenager he began to practice excessively to achieve that escape.

Around 1800, Niccolò finally arranged a concert on his own in Lucca. The success of the concert provided the necessary money to go off on his own.

He proceeded to arrange concerts and life was now a long round of concerts, traveling, drinking, gambling and affairs. He would gamble away much of his concert money. He became well known with Tuscany pawnbrokers with his violin sometimes pawned to settle his

Niccolò’s life style was having an adverse effect on his health which was deteriorating rapidly. After having had many affairs, at age 19 he became seriously with a woman many years his age. She took him to her Tuscany estate where they remained out of public from 1801 to 1804. During this time his health greatly improved. His disappearance from public view resulted in horrible newspaper stories, the worst one being that he was in prison.

In 1815, Niccolò at age 33, had an affair with a 17 year old woman. When her father found out he insisted that Niccolò marry his daughter. He refused and the father pressed charges. Niccolò was arrested and imprisoned and remained in prison for 8 days. Her father and Niccolò came to a financial agreement and he was released.

Another famous rumor was that Paganini had sold his soul to the Devil. This came about as a result of his extraordinary violin playing and his gaunt appearance (from poor health and life style). People started to wonder if he was in league with the Devil. One review noted that when he played the Witches Dance smoke was seen to rise out of his violin.

In 1824, at age 43, Niccolò Paganini met Antonia Bianchi, age 20, a singer in the a Venice theatre. She gave birth to their son Achille on July 23, 1825. They never married and there relationship, which went from good, to bad, to worse, ended. After receiving a lump sum payment from Niccolò, she left and went to Milan. Niccolò loved his son very much and spent as much time with him as his concert schedule would permit.

In December 1829, Niccolò Paganini was made on Honorary member of the Frankfort Museum Gesellschaft. Also in 1830 he was granted the title of Baron and Commander by the Westphalian Court.

Niccolò was not only a great violinist and showman but also a smart businessman promoting himself as much as possible. Occasionally, Niccolò would pay poor people to attend his concerts as applauders giving the appearances of great popularity.

Between June 1831 and March 1932 Niccolò made 142 performances in the the UK (England . Ireland, and Scotland) averaging one almost every 2 days. This was extraordinary considering the uncomfortable travel between the cities at that time.

In October 1834, after a disastrous tour of Belgium and Britain, Niccolò Paganini returned to Genoa not having touched his violin in 4 months. He realized that his playing was not up to his standards and his magic was disappearing. The Genoa he knew was only a memory. Now a wealthy man, he bought a villa near Parma. During this period and through out 1835 Nicolo did concerts for charities and the poor.

In 1836, Niccolò’s heath started to deteriorate.

Early in 1837 Niccolò Paganini filed necessary papers to legitimize his son Achille.

That same year Niccolò planned to tour America. However a month later worried about his failing health, he cancelled the trip. Around this time, Paganini was persuaded to open a casino in Paris with the promise of doubling his money in a very short time. Casino Paganini opened November 25 and it was closed January 1838 because of legal issues. He loss most of his money. In need of money, despite his poor health was forced to arrange several concerts late in 1838

Niccolò’s health was fading and he was now diagnosed with tuberculosis. He returned to Genoa in September, 1839 and then to Nice, which at the time was part of Italy (it was ceded back to France in 1860). He remained there until his death on May 27, 1840 with his son Achille at his side. The law suits resulting from the casino fiasco continued until his death and consequently he died penniless.

Even after his death problems arose. Niccolò Paganini was buried 4 times. Since Niccolò had refused the last sacrament, the Catholic Church would not allow a church burial. After several months of unsuccessful attempts to get church approval for a church burial , Niccolò’s body was buried in a temporary location. Achilles continued in his efforts to get permission to move the body to Genoa. In 1844.after a requiem mass in 1845, his body was buried in Parma. Some 20 years later the body was once more exhumed and reburied in a new cemetery at Parma. In 1926, for the 4th time, Niccolò ’s remains were re-buried in Genoa – his final resting place.

Compiled by John David Paganini

Grand Finale

The Golden Years

Grand Finale

There is much discussion about Niccolò Paganini’s hands. His hands enabled him to perform extraordinary passages on the violin. In the 1976 edition of the American Medical Journal, an article by Dr. Schoenfeld proposed that Niccolò was endowed with Marfans Syndrone. His long fingers of his left hand gave him extraordinary range of motion and his right shoulder and wrist allowed for exceptional flexibility to bowing movement.

In October 1834, after a disastrous tour of Belgium and Britain, Niccolò returned to Genoa – not having touched his violin in 4 months. He realized that his playing was not up to his own high standards and his magic was disappearing. The city of Genoa he knew was only a memory. However, Niccolò was now a wealthy man and he bought a villa near Parma. It was during this period and throughout 1835 that Niccolò did concerts for charities and the poor. Unfortunately, Nicolo’s health was starting to deteriorate.

Early in 1837 he filed necessary papers to legitimize his son Achille. In that same year Niccolò planned to tour America. However a month later, worried about his failing health, he cancelled the trip to America. Around this time, Paganini was persuaded to open a casino in Paris with the promise of doubling his money in a very short time. Casino Paganini opened on November 25, 1837 and it closed in January of 1838 due to legal issues and he loss most of his money.

In need of money, despite his poor health, Paganini was forced to arrange several concerts late in 1838. His health was fading and he was now diagnosed with tuberculosis. He returned to Genoa in September, 1839 and then to Nice, which at the time was part of Italy (it was ceded back to France in 1860). He remained there until his death on May 27, 1840 with his son Achille at his side. He was 57 years old. The law suits resulting from the casino fiasco continued until his death and consequently he died penniless.

Even after his death problems arose. Niccolò was buried 4 times. Since Niccolò had refused the last sacrament, the Catholic Church would not allow a church burial. The governor, at the insistence the Bishop, refused to allow Nicolo’s body to return to Genoa. After several months of unsuccessful attempts to get church approval for a church burial, Nicolo’s body was buried in a temporary location. Achilles continued in his efforts and in 1844 received permission to move the body to Genoa where it was interred on Paganini’s property.

In 1845 a requiem mass was held for Niccolò and his body was buried in on consecrated ground in Parma. In 1876, some 20 years later, the body was once more exhumed and reburied in Parma’s new cemetery. It remained until 1926, and unbelievably, Niccolò’s body was once again exhumed and buried in his home town of Genoa, his final resting place.

Compiled by John David Paganini