In anticipation of his 80th birthday on January 21, virtuoso Uto Ughi shared insights into his enduring relationship with the violin in an interview with ANSA, characterizing the instrument as an unforgiving “tyrant.”
Ughi, hailed as Italy’s preeminent living violinist and a former child prodigy, remarked, “The violin does not forgive you if you neglect it.” Drawing on the wisdom of the legendary Niccolò Paganini, he added, “Paganini used to say: if I go a day without studying, I am aware of it, and if I go two days, others are aware of it. It is an inexhaustible tyrant, it does not give you any respite.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Ughi has garnered numerous awards and shared the stage with some of the world’s premier orchestras. Despite his international acclaim, he expressed a desire “to do more for young musicians.”
As Ughi approaches this milestone birthday, his reflections offer a glimpse into the disciplined and demanding world of a virtuoso, where the pursuit of musical excellence is an unrelenting endeavor.
