Niccolo Paganini Caprice No 24, Ania Karkowska , 15, Live

Paganini wrote his Caprice No. 24 around 1817. He was 35 years old, at the very height of his career, already enormously famous and admired in every corner of Europe — and for a very good reason: his violin playing was out of this world! Audiences of all ages have always been drawn to dark secrets even more than to angels. Paganini understood the power of mystery and, in my opinion, helped create his own legend — the legend that he was possessed by the Devil. But I believe that Paganini was, in his own extraordinary way, one of the very first God’s fiddlers. He was not only a legendary violinist but also a businessman, investing in casinos and violins. He made the Guarneri del Gesù violin an important part of his own legend. Not Stradivari, but Guarneri del Gesù violins were especially close to his heart and soul. Following Paganini’s recommendation, Karol Lipiński purchased a Guarneri del Gesù. During their famous historical musical duel , both Paganini and Lipiński played on Guarneri del Gesù violins for audience in Warsaw. In the future, both Henryk Wieniawski and Jascha Heifetz would also have their favorite Guarneri del Gesù violins. Ania told me once, at a Stradivari Society concert, that playing on a Stradivari was easier for her than playing on a Guarneri del Gesù — but that Guarneri del Gesù violins had even more colors in their magnificent sound. She told me that playing one was like touching Heaven and reaching the Stars... Anna Karkowska 15 years old on violin made in 1936 in Łódź by Józef Radzikowski