Coming this October: the exhibition “When Paganini Meets Ysaÿe: The Devils’ Violins”
When Paganini Meets Ysaÿe: The Devils’ Violins
16 October 2026 – 7 March 2027
Grand Curtius
https://www.grandcurtius.be/fr
The international exhibition “When Paganini Meets Ysaÿe: The Devils’ Violins”, presented at the Grand Curtius from 16 October 2026 to 7 March 2027, traces the extraordinary legacy of Niccolò Paganini (1782, Genoa – 1840, Nice) and his influence at the heart of the Liège school of violin playing.
Through autograph manuscripts, historic instruments, musical scores, previously unseen archival material, and exceptional memorabilia, the exhibition reveals how the genius of the Genoese master profoundly influenced several generations of musicians from Liège and across Europe.
The Exhibition
The exhibition brings together remarkable loans from Italian and Belgian public and private collections. Among the exhibits are Niccolò Paganini’s personal guitar, highly significant autograph manuscripts, and valuable materials relating to his work as a composer, virtuoso, and teacher.
These prestigious objects offer visitors a unique opportunity to come closer to the historical reality of an artist who became a legend. From Paganini to his only recognised pupil, Camillo Sivori, from Henry Vieuxtemps to Eugène Ysaÿe, and from François Prume to César Thomson, an artistic lineage emerges in which Liège stands as one of the most brilliant centres of influence.
The exhibition also presents a rare collection of fourteen historic bows dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Made by renowned bow makers including Pierre Tourte, François-Xavier Tourte, Léonard Tourte, John Dodd, Louis-Simon Pajeot, François-Jude Gaulard, and Nicolas-Joseph Harmand, these masterpieces illustrate the innovations that made the emergence of modern virtuosity possible and extend the dialogue between instrument, performer, and musical creation.
The presence of historic and contemporary instruments, including examples from the Liège International String Quartet Competition, the Cordoneum – School and Museum of Violin Making, the Grétry Museum, and private collections, further highlights the essential role of violin making in the history of European music.
Organised at the Grand Curtius under the auspices of the City of Liège – a UNESCO Creative City of Music and a member of the European Paganini Route, a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe – the exhibition reaffirms Liège’s place among Europe’s leading centres of musical culture.
Bringing together virtuosity, transmission, and innovation, the exhibition sheds light on one of the most fascinating chapters in European musical history. It invites visitors on an unprecedented journey into the heart of the Europe of the violin, from Genoa to Liège, from Paganini to Ysaÿe.
Patrick Dheur
Exhibition Curator
Partners
The exhibition has been developed in collaboration with numerous partners whose loans and support have made this cultural project possible.
Programme
A programme of concerts, guided tours, events, and accompanying activities for audiences of all ages will be offered throughout the exhibition.
Practical Information
- Exhibition: When Paganini Meets Ysaÿe: The Devils’ Violins
- Dates: 16 October 2026 – 7 March 2027
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; closed on Tuesdays and on 1 November, 2 November, 25 December, 1 January, and 1 May
- Venue: Grand Curtius Museum – Féronstrée 136, 4000 Liège
- Admission: prices to be announced online soon https://www.grandcurtius.be/fr