ALS to His Teacher, Ferdinand Paer, the “Master of Masters”

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PAGANINI, NICCOLO. (1782-1840). Italian musician and composer; regarded as the violin’s greatest virtuoso. ALS. (“N. Paganini”). 1p. 8vo. Paris, April 28, 1831. To his teacher, Italian opera composer FERDINAND PAËR (1771-1839). In Italian with translation.

“Most cherished master of masters, I do not want to see you before departing because a farewell would cause me too much pain. But accept it from your aff[ectionat]e…

P.S. I hope to see you here again, more prosperous than ever, on my return, which will be next October. Love me, so that I will be proud to call myself your most obliged pupil…”

Paër’s operas include Circe, Orphée et Euridice, Camilla, Achille, Leonora (based on the same story that inspired Beethoven’s Fidelio), and, Agnese, his most famous work, which won the approbation of Stendahl, Chopin and Berlioz as well as the patronage of Empress Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily, the spouse of Emperor Francis II; Frederick August, Elector of Saxony who granted him a lifetime appointment as Court Kapellmeister; French King Louis Philippe, who appointed him conductor of the royal orchestra; and Napoleon. In addition to leading Paris’ Opèra-Italien and shaping French opera through the works staged at the Opèra-Comique, Paër taught such illustrious pupils as Franz Liszt and Paganini.

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Niccolo Paganini

A child prodigy, Paganini began his musical training at age and quickly outpaced the teachers of his native Genoa. “In 1795 the twelve-year-old wizard headed for Parma, with the intention of studying with Alessandro Rolla, one of the most innovative virtuosos of his age. Just one lesson was enough to convince Rolla that Paganini would be happier with his ex-teacher Ferdinando Paër, who after a few lessons referred Paganini to his own original teacher, Gaspare Ghiretti,” (“Great Violinists: Nicolo Paganini,” The Strad). Both Paër and Ghiretti influenced Paganini’s compositional style, while he developed his own unique style of playing. Many of Paganini’s compositions were deemed unplayable, prompting some to claim that his talent was the result of supernatural, if not diabolical, influences. During 1831 Paganini toured extensively in Paris and London.

Written on a folded sheet with the integral address leaf attached. Red wax seal remnants. Folded with light creasing and normal wear; in very good condition. A fine association between Paganini and his teacher.

ALS to His Teacher, Ferdinand Paer, the “Master of Masters”