The violin concertos by Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) in particular contain far more artistic and compositional content than is suggested by the reputation of a devilish violinist who supposedly composed only for bravura, which is reduced to exorbitant virtuosity.

Soloist Manrico Padovani has been described by the critics as a: "Penetrating lyricist", "Devil's violinist", "A violin that enchants"; the impressions that Manrico Padovani leaves behind in his concerts with his virtuosic and profound playing as well as his flawless technique. The Strad even described him as a "Violin Hero".

He performs Paganini's concertos on a valuable Stradivari from 1722 and on an equally valuable Stradivari-Vuillaume Messiah from 1870 alongside the Romanian Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seoul Güri Philharmonic Orchestra under Boris Perrenoud, and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana under British conductor Howard Griffiths.