The Bow of Paganini. Genesis, Legacy, and Transformations of European Violinism

first half of October 2026,

International Conference

This conference aims at exploring the evolution of European violin schools between the late 18th and 19th centuries, establishing a dialogue among the languages, techniques, and aesthetics that preceded and followed the revolutionary figure of Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840).

The objective is to outline the European violinistic context in which the violinist was trained and worked, analyzing the technical, stylistic, and cultural roots of his art and the profound influence he exerted on 19th-century violin schools. The conference fosters an international discussion on the dynamics of continuity and innovation that characterize the period "in the time of Paganini."

Paganini, whom Baillot placed outside any specific school, represents a turning point in the history of instrumental performance: his interpretive practice, his technique, his concept of the concerto, and his relationship with the audience redefined the very boundaries of music-making in Europe.

Thematic Areas include, but are not limited to:

European violin schools between the 18th and 19th centuries (Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, etc.)

Sources, methods, and treatises on the violin during Paganini’s time

Teachers, students, and the circulation of technical models

Performance techniques, practice, and innovations in instrumental language (pre and post-Paganini)

The reception of Paganini and the construction of the virtuoso myth

Paganini and the birth of the modern concerto: repertoires, venues, audiences

Organological aspects and luthiers in the Paganinian era

Interconnections with the arts and visual culture of the 19th century

Paganini’s legacy in violin pedagogy and historiography

Repertoires, transcriptions, and the critical reception of virtuosity

Interactions between concert practice and violin pedagogy

Niccolò Paganini in the teaching of the violin and string instruments

Submission Guidelines and Important Dates
The conference welcomes contributions of both a musicological and performance practice nature, including possible live demonstrations, workshops, or performances related to the themes discussed.
Interested scholars are invited to send an abstract (max 250 words) and a short biography (max 100 words) by January 31, 2026 to the following address: direzione@centropaganini.it

Selected presentations will have a duration of 30 minutes, followed by a discussion.

The working languages of the conference are Italian, French, and English.

The outcome of the selection process will be communicated by February 28, 2026.

The conference will take place during the first half of October 2026.

Scientific Committee
The conference's Scientific Committee is composed of: Roberto Iovino, Mariateresa Dellaborra, Vittorio Marchese, Flavio Menardi, Danilo Prefumo, Anna Sorrento, Italo Vescovo.

Il Centro di ricerca e didattica dedicato a Paganini, con una sede prestigiosa collocata a Palazzo Tursi, è stato inaugurato il 15 ottobre 2020.

Scopo del Centro è valorizzare la figura e l’eredità culturale del massimo violinista di tutti i tempi, attraverso giornate di studio, conferenze, iniziative editoriali, collaborazioni con iniziative realizzate in altre città, italiane e/o straniere.

Attraverso un lavoro scientifico di ricerca e attività di divulgazione il Centro Paganini, realizzato con il sostegno del Comune di Genova e strutturato all’interno dell’associazione Amici di Paganini, intende essere anche sede di archivio, documentazione e informazione su Paganini, sulle iniziative paganiniane e più genericamente, sulla cultura musicale del territorio, a disposizione di tutti gli studiosi.

A tale scopo si è dotato di un sito nel quale è stata creata una biblioteca digitale destinata ad accogliere documenti, pubblicazioni, materiali utili per la consultazione e per la ricerca.

Il Centro diretto da Roberto Iovino con il coordinamento organizzativo di Nicole Olivieri, si avvale di un comitato scientifico formato da Mariateresa Dellaborra, Vittorio Marchese, Flavio Menardi Noguera, Danilo Prefumo, Anna Sorrento, Italo Vescovo.

The Paganini Center, with its prestigious headquarters in Palazzo Tursi, was inaugurated on October 15, 2020.

The Center's goal is to promote the figure and cultural legacy of the greatest violinist of all time through study days, conferences, publishing initiatives, and collaborations with initiatives held in other cities, both Italian and foreign.

Through scientific research and outreach activities, the Paganini Center, established with the support of the Municipality of Genoa and organized within the Amici di Paganini association, also aims to provide an archive, documentation, and information on Paganini, Paganini's initiatives, and more generally, on the musical culture of the region, available to all scholars.

To this end, it has created a website (www.centropaganini.it) where a digital library has been created to host documents, publications, and materials useful for consultation and research.

The Center, directed by Roberto Iovino with organizational coordination by Nicole Olivieri, avails itself of a scientific committee made up of Mariateresa Dellaborra, Vittorio Marchese, Flavio Menardi Noguera, Danilo Prefumo, Anna Sorrento, and Italo Vescovo.

Centro Paganini, Ricerca e Didattica, Via Garibaldi 11-13, 16124 Genova. Associazione “Amici di Paganini” info@centropaganini.it ; direzione@centropaganini.it.

Musicologie.org, 56 rue de la Fédération, 93100 Montreuil. ☎ 06 06 61 73 41.

ISSN 2269-9910.

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Dimanche 7 Décembre, 2025