Paganini
Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840) — Italian violinist and composer whose supernatural technique set a standard that still challenges players today.
In Depth
Paganini was the greatest violin virtuoso in history. His technical abilities — double stops in tenths, left-hand pizzicato, ricochet bowing, harmonics at extreme speeds — were so far beyond anything heard before that audiences genuinely believed he had made a pact with the devil. He reinforced this image with his gaunt appearance, dark clothing, and theatrical stage presence.
His 24 Caprices for solo violin remain the ultimate test of violin technique. Liszt, inspired by seeing Paganini perform, resolved to achieve the same level of virtuosity on the piano — essentially founding the entire tradition of Romantic piano virtuosity. Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Lutosławski all wrote variations on Paganini's themes, extending his influence well beyond the violin.
When Paganini died, the Catholic Church initially refused to bury him because of persistent rumours about his pact with the devil. His body wasn't properly interred for 36 years.