Niccolò Paganini

Niccolò Paganini, the celebrated Italian violin virtuoso and composer, was so supremely talented that mere mortals struggled to comprehend his abilities. His technical prowess was so revolutionary, so far beyond his contemporaries, that rumors spread like wildfire: he must have sold his soul to the devil. Or, perhaps, he was merely Jewish. For some, it seems, the distinction was equally unsettling.

Paganini's "Jewish" status was largely the product of antisemitic conjecture. His dark, striking features and thin frame, coupled with his unparalleled musical genius, apparently screamed "Jew" to certain segments of the European public. Never mind that he was born and raised Catholic in Genoa; some minds, it seems, prefer their conspiracy theories to inconvenient facts.

While he never identified as Jewish, nor was he of Jewish descent, Paganini certainly earned a "K" score that few can match. His compositions, like the 24 Caprices, remain cornerstones of violin repertoire, challenging and inspiring musicians to this day. If only his detractors had focused on his music rather than his perceived (and nonexistent) lineage, perhaps they'd have been less kvetchy, and more kvelly.