Players trace life of violinist in 'Paganini'

York College’s student theatre troupe, The Players, will trace the life and career of violinist Nicolo Paganini on stage at 7 p.m., March 18-20, in the Collegiate Performing Arts Center. All performances of “Paganini” are open to the public free of charge.

Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1782, Paganini was one of the most famous virtuosi of his day, and is considered to be one of the greatest violinists ever, with absolute pitch and perfect intonation, expressive bowing techniques and new uses of staccato and pizzicato techniques.

This wildly funny, demonic epic farce traces the bizarre career of Paganini, a man so possessed during his performances that it was rumored he had sold his soul to the devil, according to doollee.com. Using Paganini's “24 Caprices for Violin” as a haunting background, this nightmare play gallops through grotesque adventures as Paganini plays to spellbound audiences throughout Europe, the century's equivalent to a rock star. He leaves a trail of seduced women, enraged fathers and creditors and reportedly evades responsibility for a murder. A clockworks girl, a horrifying jack in the box, a trumpet blowing gorilla, a cymbals hanging bear, a barbershop quartet of murderous doctors, dead bird soup, Beethoven's ghost, an earsplitting diva, the king of France and other delights and horrors are encountered as Paganini moves toward his terrible destination. This inventive play employs theatrical conventions to tell the surreal story of a dark and twisted journey while probing the consequences of art and the nature of salvation for the artist.

The York College Players produce plays and occasionally musicals from the classic and modern repertories for the education and appreciation of the college community. Funded through the Department of English and Humanities, Players is open to all full- and part-time students who meet academic criteria.