This devilishly divine violin by Niccolò Paganini - why the maestro bequeathed it to Genoa

Some saw him as a swindler, others as a Genius. The whole life of the musician was shrouded in secrets and omissions, and only now some details of his biography began to be revealed. But everyone who spoke about the violinist agreed that this man was a real Master. From our article you will find out which master made the Paganini violin, which he bequeathed to Genoa, and why the great violinist presented this instrument to his native city!

"A worthy son of a glorious city"

The name Niccolo Paganini is very closely connected 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 in 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 salesman, he was fond of music. Frustrated that the eldest son Carlo did not show any musical abilities, the father turned his attention to the 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 at least one day to take a break from musical passages ...

The first solo concert happened when the young violinist was only 11 years old. The boy studied for several years with Giacomo Costa, who was Niccolò's first mentor and taught him violin making. The young genius surprised the townspeople, they started talking about a 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 the inner ear.

At the age of 16, Niccolo manages to escape from his father's care and go to Pisa, where they started talking about his performances. None of the musicians could repeat those passages that Niccolo masterfully mastered. He was able to extract sounds from the violin, similar to the singing of birds., wind sounds and even a human voice. Concerts went one after another, the cities were replaced by a succession:, Livorno ...

But real success also came to the violinist again in Genoa. It happened in 1827, at the Falcone Theatre, where the musician's concert took place on November 9th. The listeners were amazed by the magic that the great maestro extracted from the violin.

Among the listeners was the King of Piedmont and Carl Felix. The august monarch did not skimp on applause, and after the concert he showed the musician his special disposition. This incident hit 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 novels, including with the most august persons. History has preserved only the names of only two women with whom Niccolo had quite long romances.

One of the novels happened to Angelina Kavanna, True, he was overshadowed by the fact that Angelina wrote to the authorities, as if the musician had seduced her and kidnapped her.

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

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

Due to numerous trips, constant music making Paganini did not take care of his own health at all. He began to be disturbed by coughing and periodic pains. Neither ointments, nor grinding, nor trips to French seaside resorts could cure the master.

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

Interesting facts about Paganini:

• Many contemporaries called Paganini "the violinist of the devil". Many refused to believe that the musician was capable of extracting such beautiful sounds from the violin, and only after listening to his performance, they admitted that this person is actually a virtuoso in his field.
• Paganini was impossibly distracted. He did not even remember the date of his birth, and in the documents everywhere, due to a misunderstanding, he indicated different dates - either two years later, or a year earlier. And he was the third child in the family, and not the second, as he himself said.
• It is unknown if Niccolò attended school. In his letters, written by him already in adulthood, there are very frequent and gross spelling errors.

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

The history of the famous instrument

Who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed as a gift to Genoa? Master Paganini had a huge collection of violins, which were created by real masters of their era - Guarneri, Stradivari, Amati. But there was one that was my favourite. Her name is "il Cannone" ("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 throughout the country, and the frantic violin of Paganini only inspired the fighters for freedom. 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 presented to Genoa, whose work the maestro bequeathed to his native city?

The master who made the violin that Paganini bequeathed to Genoa is Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri, grandson of Andrea Guarneri. It was made, according to the 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 at the power of the instrument's sound.: he withstood the powerful pressure of the bow, while the sound remained smooth and not distorted. That is why the violin became Paganini's favorite concert instrument.

The musician treated her like a living being. Once the violin lost its voice, and the musician carried it to the violin maker Vil'om. There was a fame 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 Vilhom'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 presented Vilhom with a precious box encrusted with stones.

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

After the death of the Maestro, the violin received another name - "The Widow of Paganini". Not a single musician was able to extract sound from it, as Niccolo did.

In the will of the great musician Paganini, it was specified that the collection of violins, and especially the Cannone, should be donated to his native city, Genoa, and never leave its borders.

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

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

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