Niccolò Paganini was the Robert Johnson of classical music. His ferocious technique and unparalleled popular success were seriously considered the fruits of a Faustian bargain. The talent was always there. Getting people to listen was the hard part. In fact, it was such a tricky proposition, the materialist maestro gladly makes that deal in Bernard Rose’s “The Devil’s Violinist.”
Sulfur has not numbed the Mephistophelean Urbani’s nose for talent. He immediately recognizes the gifts of an aspiring Don Juan violinist scuffling in grubby music halls. He pledges to guarantee Paganini’s career and serve as his personal servant in this world, if Paganini agrees to do the same for him in the next.
Violin prodigy and classical crossover artist David Garrett can certainly play. Acting is a little iffier
