Niccolò Paganini

Niccolò Paganini was a Genoese violinist and composer who was born in 1782 in Gênes, république de Gênes. He began learning the mandolin at age five and the violin at age seven under the guidance of his father. He composed his first sonata at age eight and performed his first concert shortly thereafter, playing a concerto by Pleyel. During his teenage years, he toured throughout northern Italy and established a reputation for technical innovation. He is famous for the work Vingt-quatre caprices pour violon, op. 1 (1820) and a series of violin concertos. He toured extensively across Europe, including performances in Vienna, Paris, and London. His compositions include “Le streghe” (1813) and “Mose-Fantasia” (1819). Paganini died in 1840 in Nice, royaume de Sardaigne.