Objectives

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

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 using the form in the contact page.

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.

Conference date

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.