Niccolò Paganini

Early Romantic · 1782–1840

Niccolò Paganini, born in Genoa in 1782, more or less invented the modern idea of the touring virtuoso. His violin technique was so far beyond anything audiences had heard, with its rapid-fire plucking, harmonics, and whole pieces played on one string, that rumors spread of a pact with the devil. His gaunt figure onstage did nothing to discourage the story.

He toured Europe to frenzied acclaim and made a fortune, some of it lost in a failed Paris casino venture bearing his name. His influence outlived the legend: Liszt heard him and resolved to do for the piano what Paganini had done for the violin, and the tune of his final Caprice has been borrowed by Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and many others.

Start with the 24 Caprices for solo violin, especially the famous last one, then the Violin Concerto no. 1 to hear the showman with an orchestra behind him.

149 works in the catalog, across 3 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

24 Caprices for Solo Violin, op. 1, MS25
3 Duets, for violin and bassoon, MS130
3 Duetti concertanti, for violin and cello, MS107
3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 4, MS28-30
3 Quartets, for guitar and strings, op. 5, MS31-33
4 Nocturnes, for string quartet, MS15
4 Studies for Violin Solo
6 Duetti, for violin and guitar, MS110
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS9, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS10, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS11, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS12, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS13, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS133, "Lucca Sonatas"
6 Sonatas, for violin and guitar, MS134, "Lucca Sonatas"
9 Quartets, for guitar and strings, MS34-42
43 Ghiribizzi, MS43
60 Variations on Barucabà, for violin and guitar, op. 14, MS71
Allegretto in A major, MS86
Allegretto in A major, MS90
Allegretto in A minor, MS91
Andantino in C major, MS89
Andantino in C major, MS97
Andantino in F minor, MS102
Andantino in G major, MS88
Andantino in G major, MS99
Cantabile a Minuetto no. 3, MS126
Cantabile and Waltz in E for Violin and Guitar, MS45
Cantabile e Valtz no. 4, MS127
Cantabile e Valtz no. 5, MS128
Cantabile e Valtz no. 6, MS129
Cantabile in D major, for violin and guitar, MS109
Cantabile in D major, for violin and piano, MS109, op. 17
Caprice d'adieu, for solo violin, MS68
Carmagnola, variations for violin and guitar
Centone di sonate no. 1 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/1
Centone di sonate no. 2 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/2
Centone di sonate no. 3 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/3
Centone di sonate no. 4 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/4
Centone di sonate no. 5 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/5
Centone di sonate no. 6 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/6
Centone di sonate no. 7 in F major, for violin and guitar, MS112/7
Centone di sonate no. 8 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/8
Centone di sonate no. 9 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/9
Centone di sonate no. 10 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/10
Centone di sonate no. 11 in A minor, for violin and guitar, MS112/11
Centone di sonate no. 12 in D major, for violin and guitar, MS112/12
Centone di sonate no. 13 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/13
Centone di sonate no. 14 in G major, for violin and guitar, MS112/14
Centone di Sonate no. 15 in A major, for guitar and violin, MS112/15
Centone di sonate no. 16 in E major, for violin and guitar, MS112/16
Centone di sonate no. 17 in A major, for violin and guitar, MS112/17
Centone di sonate no. 18 in C major, for violin and guitar, MS112/18
Divertimenti carnevaleschi, 20 pieces for 2 violins and bass, MS4
Duetto amoroso in C for Violin and Guitar, MS111
Entrata d'Adone nella reggia di Venere in C major, for violin and guitar, MS8
Grand Sonata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 35, MS3
Guitar Sonata in A
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/1
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/2
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/26
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/30
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS84/37
Guitar Sonata in A major, MS104
Guitar Sonata in C major, MS84/15
Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/4
Guitar Sonata in D major, MS84/10
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/16
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/25
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/32
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS84/35
Guitar Sonata in E major, MS87
Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/6
Guitar Sonata in F major, MS84/14
Guitar Sonata in G major, MS84/8
Guitar Sonatina in A major, MS85/2
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/1
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/4
Guitar Sonatina in C major, MS85/5
Guitar Sonatina in D major, MS85/3
In cuor più non mi sento in A major, for 2 violins and bass, MS117
Inno patriotico in A major, Allegro and 6 Variations for solo violin, MS81
Introduction and Variations on 'Nel cor più non mi sento' from Paisiello's 'La molinara,' Op.38, MS44
Marcia in A major, MS103
Marziale, MS105
Minuet for mandolin, MS106
Minuet in E
Moto perpetuo in C major, for violin and guitar, op. 11, MS72
Romance in A minor, for guitar and strings
Rondoncino in E major, MS94
Serenata, for mandolin and guitar in G major, MS16
Serenata in C major, for viola, cello and guitar, MS17
Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar
Serenata in F major, for 2 violins and guitar, MS115
Serenata per Rovene, for mandolin and guitar in E minor, MS14
Sinfonia della Lodovisia in D major, MS98
Sonata and Variations, MS132
Sonata concertata in A for Violin and Guitar, op. 61, MS2
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A, op. 3, no. 5, MS27/5
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 1, MS26/1
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 2, no. 4, MS26/4
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, op. 3, no. 1 MS27/1
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 2, no. 6, MS26/6
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A minor, op. 3, no. 4, MS27/4
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in C major, op. 2, no. 2, MS26/2
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 2, no. 5, MS26/5
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D major, op. 3, no. 3, MS27/3
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in D minor, op. 2, no. 3, MS6/3
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in E minor, op. 3, no. 6, MS27/6
Sonata for Violin and Guitar in G major, op. 3, no. 2, MS27/2
Sonata in F minor
Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 1, MS124
Sonatina for Violin and Guitar no. 2, MS125
Tema variato in A major, Theme and 7 Variations for solo violin, MS82
Terzetto concertante in D major, for viola, guitar and cello, MS114
Terzetto in A minor, for 2 violins and guitar, MS116
Terzetto in D major, for violin, cello and guitar, MS69
Trio in D
Trio in F major, MS101
Variations on 'Preghiera', MS23
Variations on a string, for cello and piano
Violin Sonata in A major, MS83
Violin Sonata in C major, MS6
Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor
Waltz in C major, MS92
Waltz in E major, MS96

Orchestral

Sonata per la Grand Viola and Orchestra in C minor, MS70
Violin Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, op. 6, MS21
Violin Concerto no. 2 in B minor, op. 7, "La campanella"
Adagio in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS49
Adagio in E major, for violin and orchestra, MS49
Concertino for Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra, "Niccolò Paganini a Mr. Henry"
Introduction and Variations on 'Di tanti palpiti' from Rossini's 'Tancredi,' Op.13, MS77
Introduction and Variations on 'Non più mesta' from Rossini's 'La cenerentola' in E flat major, op. 12; MS22
La Primavera, sonata with variations in A major, op. 30, MS73
Le streghe, op. 8, MS19, "Witches' Dance"
Maestosa sonata sentimentale, op. 27, MS51
Molto perpetuo, for violin and orchestra, MS66
Napoléon in E flat major, for violin and orchestra, MS5
Polacca con variazioni in A major, MS18
Sonata and Variations on 'Pria ch'io l'impegno' from Weigl's 'L'amor Marinaro' in E major, MS47
Sonata Varsavia, MS57
Tarantella in A major, for violin and orchestra, MS76
Variations on 'God Save the King', op. 9, MS56
Violin Concerto no. 3 in E major, MS50
Violin Concerto no. 4 in D minor, MS60
Violin Concerto no. 5 in A minor, op. 37, MS78
Violin Concerto no. 6 in E minor, op. post.

Vocal

Le Couvent du Mont St. Bernard, for violin, orchestra and male chorus, MS67

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