American Violinist Ruggiero Ricci Was Born in 1918

He was a child prodigy known especially for his recordings and performances of the Paganini caprices

American violin virtuoso Ruggiero Ricci was born on this day in 1918. A protégé of Louis Persinger and Georg Kulenkampff, he is remembered as one of the finest musicians of the 20th century.

In addition to performing over 6,000 public performances during his 70-year solo career, Maestro Ricci also served multiple teaching positions at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the University of Michigan.

He is primarily known for his recordings of Paganini. He was the first violinist to record the complete original 24 Caprices, Op. 1. He often said he would return to the Paganini Caprice "when I felt my technique was sliding." He was also the first violinist to perform them in one concert.

To balance his love of the 19th-century firecracker repertoire, Ricci also emphasized studying J.S. Bach, giving unaccompanied recitals where he performed Bach and Paganini alternately, completing the unaccompanied output of both composers on successive nights.

Ricci produced a large output of recordings – more than 500 – which included the concertos by Beethoven (with 14 different cadenzas), Brahms (with 16 cadenzas), Saint-Saëns, Khachaturian and Tchaikovsky.

Ricci played on a 1734 Guarneri del Gesù violin, formerly owned by Bronislav Huberman.

He passed away in August of 2012, aged 94.

RUGGIERO RICCI | TCHAIKOVSKY | VIOLIN CONCERTO | 3RD MOVEMENT | 1964