At Vienna, one of the audience affirmed publicly that my performance was not surprising, for he had distinctly seen, while I was playing my variations, the devil at my elbow, directing my arm and guiding my bow. My resemblance to the devil was a proof of my origin.
Interpretation
Paganini suggests that his extraordinary musical talent might be seen as otherworldly or inspired by dark forces.
In this quote, Niccolo Paganini reflects on the perception of his talent as being so remarkable that it evokes supernatural explanations. The audience member's assertion that the 'devil' guided him highlights the fine line between genius and the uncanny, suggesting that exceptional skill can sometimes lead to unfounded assumptions about its source. Paganini's self-awareness regarding the public's fascination with his talent reveals the pressure and intrigue surrounding artists whose abilities defy conventional understanding.
In practice
In a discussion about the struggles of artists, this quote could be shared to illustrate the misconceptions surrounding extraordinary talent.
When I attained my seventh year, my father, whose ear was unmusical but who was nevertheless passionately fond of music, gave me my elementary lessons on the violin; in a very few months, I was able to play all manner of compositions at sight.
Technical knowledge is not enough. One must transcend techniques so that the art becomes an artless art, growing out of the unconscious.
Art lives on constraint and dies of freedom.
To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music that words make.
Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.
A play, after all, is a mystery. There's no narration. And as soon as there's no narration, it's open to interpretation. It must be interpreted. You don't have a choice... Each play can become many things.
The real test of a musician is live performance. It's one thing to spend a long time learning how to play well in the studio, but to do it in front of people is what keeps me coming back to touring.
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