Editing Niccolò Paganini (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Franz Krüger - Parade auf dem Opernplatz - Henriette Sontag, Niccolò Paganini - IMGP5955.JPG|thumb|right|[[Henriette Sontag]] and Niccolò Paganini. Detail of ''Parade on Opernplatz in 1822'' by [[Franz Krüger]]]]
Though having no shortage of romantic conquests, Paganini was seriously involved with a singer named Antonia Bianchi from Como, whom he met in Milan in 1813. The two gave concerts together throughout Italy. They had a son, Achille Ciro Alessandro, born on 23 July 1825 in [[Palermo]] and baptized at San Bartolomeo's. They never legalized their union and it ended around April 1828 in Vienna. Paganini brought Achille on his European tours, and Achille later accompanied his father until the latter's death.

Throughout his career, Paganini also became close friends with composers [[Gioachino Rossini]] and [[Hector Berlioz]]. Rossini and Paganini met in Bologna in the summer of 1818. In January 1821, on his return from Naples, Paganini met Rossini again in Rome, just in time to become the substitute conductor for Rossini's opera ''[[Matilde di Shabran]]'', upon the sudden death of the original conductor. Paganini's efforts earned great gratitude from Rossini.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ztab1 |url=http://www.voutsadakis.com/GALLERY/ALMANAC/Year2010/Oct2010/10272010/2010oct27a.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.voutsadakis.com}}</ref>

Paganini met Berlioz in Paris in 1833 and they continued to correspond. He commissioned a piece from the composer, but was not satisfied with the resultant four-movement piece for orchestra and viola obbligato, ''[[Harold en Italie]]''. He never performed it; instead, it was premiered a year later by violist [[Chrétien Urhan|Christian Urhan]]. He did, however, write his own ''Sonata per Gran Viola'' Op. 35 (with orchestra or guitar accompaniment). Despite his alleged lack of interest in ''Harold'', Paganini often referred to Berlioz as the resurrection of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]] and, towards the end of his life, he gave large sums to the composer. They shared an active interest in the guitar, which they both played and used in compositions. Paganini gave Berlioz a guitar, which they both signed on its [[sound box]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SoundOn Player |url=https://player.soundon.fm/p/erveroworka-La-Campanella-Paganini-Guitar-Pdf-23 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=player.soundon.fm}}</ref>