Karol Lipiński
Polish violinist and composer, rival to Paganini.
Karol Józef Lipiński (30 October 1790 – 16 December 1861) was a Polish violinist and composer who built his career during the era of the partitions of Poland. He became famous as a serious rival to Niccolò Paganini, and his skill earned him dedications from Paganini, Robert Schumann, and Henryk Wieniawski. The Karol Lipiński University of Music in Wrocław, Poland, bears his name.
Lipiński was born in Radzyń Podlaski to Feliks Lipiński, a musician, and had a younger brother also named Feliks. He started as first violinist at the Lwów opera orchestra in 1810 and became its conductor two years later. In 1817 he traveled to Italy hoping to hear Paganini. They met in Milan, played together daily, and performed two joint concerts in April 1818, which greatly boosted Lipiński’s reputation. Paganini dedicated his *Burlesque Variations on "La Carnaval de Venise"*, Op. 10, to Lipiński, who later returned the favor in 1827 by dedicating his *Three Caprices for Violin* to Paganini.
On his way back to Poland in 1818, Lipiński stopped in Trieste for lessons from Dr. Mazzurana, a ninety-year-old former pupil of Giuseppe Tartini who could no longer play but critiqued Lipiński’s performance of a Tartini sonata. During this period he also performed with pianist Maria Agata Szymanowska. In 1820 he visited Berlin to meet Louis Spohr, then traveled to Russia. In 1829 he played a series of concerts with Paganini in Warsaw, attended by the nineteen-year-old Frédéric Chopin. But a rivalry soured their friendship; afterward, when asked who the greatest violinist was, Paganini would say, “I don’t know who the greatest is, but Lipiński is certainly the second greatest.”
From 1835 to 1836 Lipiński undertook a long tour, meeting Robert Schumann in Leipzig. Schumann was so impressed he dedicated *Carnaval*, Op. 9, to him. In 1836 Lipiński performed his *Military Concerto* with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in England. In June 1839 he accepted a dual role in Dresden as concertmaster of the Royal Oratory and kapellmeister at the court chapel. He then stopped touring and focused on chamber music, especially Beethoven’s string quartets. In Dresden he gave a joint recital with Franz Liszt, playing Beethoven’s *Kreutzer Sonata*. Henryk Wieniawski dedicated his *Polonaise de concert*, Op. 4, to Lipiński, and Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński dedicated his *String Quartet No. 2*, Op. 40, to him as well. Lipiński retired with a pension in 1861 and died in the village of Virliv (now in Ternopil region, Ukraine). He owned two violins—a 1715 Stradivari and a Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù—both now known as “ex-Lipinski.”
His early compositions, written while at the Lviv theatre, include three symphonies (Op. 2) and three operas: *Kłótnia przez zakład*, *Terefere w Tarapacie*, and *Syrena Dniestru*. The last, an adaptation of Ferdinand Kauer’s *Donauweibchen* with some original music, was performed nearly every season in Lviv for thirty years from 1814, but the score is now lost. Most of his surviving works are for violin: four concertos (a fifth is lost), two string trios (for two violins and cello), plus polonaises, rondos, variations, and capriccios. He also wrote songs and harmonized popular Polish tunes. His compositions have been recorded by Polish violinist Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, among others, and all the major works—concertos, trios, a symphony, and an overture—have been recorded multiple times.
- born
- 30 October 1790, Radzyń Podlaski
- died
- 16 December 1861, village Virliv (Ternopil region, Ukraine)
- field
- Music composition, violin performance
- nationality
- Polish
- known_for
- Virtuoso violinist, rival to Paganini, composer of violin concertos and operas
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lipiński was born in Radzyń Podlaski. His father was Feliks Lipiński (1765–1847), and he had a younger brother of the same name Feliks (1815–1865). In 1810 he became the first violin and two years later the conductor of the opera orchestra at Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine). In 1817 he went to Italy in the hope of hearing Niccolò Paganini. The two met in Milan, met daily to play, and even performed two concerts together in April 1818, which added immensely to Lipiński's reputation. Paganini dedicated his Burlesque Variations on "La Carnaval de Venise", Op. 10 for unaccompanied violin to Lipiński. Later, in 1827, Lipiński returned the honour by dedicating his "Three Caprices for Violin" to Paganini. In 1818 on his return to Poland he stopped in Trieste to receive instruction from Dr Mazzurana, a very elderly former pupil of Giuseppe Tartini; Mazzurana was ninety years old, and could no longer play himself, but gave his criticism of Lipiński's performance of one of Tartini's sonatas. During that time, he also performed concerts together with the Polish pianist and composer Maria Agata Szymanowska. In 1820 he travelled to Berlin where he met Louis Spohr, and to Russia. In 1829 he went to Warsaw, and played a series of concerts with Paganini that summer that were attended by the nineteen-year-old Frédéric Chopin. However, a rivalry developed between Lipiński and Paganini which destroyed their friendship. Thereafter, whenever Paganini was asked who the greatest violinist was, he would say "I don't know who the greatest is, but Lipiński is certainly the second greatest". In 1835–36 he went on a long tour, during which he met Robert Schumann in Leipzig. Schumann was so impressed that he dedicated Carnaval, Op. 9 to him. In 1836 he visited England and played his Military Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In June 1839 he received a double appointment in Dresden, as concertmaster of the Royal Oratory and kapellmeister at the court chapel. With his Dresden duties, he ceased touring as a virtuoso, but concentrated on chamber music, with a special devotion to the string quartets of Beethoven. Here he also gave a joint recital with Liszt, performing Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. He developed a great reputation as the only serious rival to Paganini. Henryk Wieniawski dedicated his Polonaise de concert, Op.4 to Lipiński, like Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński his String Quartet No. 2, Op.40. He retired with a pension in 1861, and died in village Virliv (Ternopil region, Ukraine). He was the owner of two violins, one made in 1715 by Antonio Stradivari and another by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù. Both instruments are referred to as "ex-Lipinski". The Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław, Poland was named after him.
Reader's Guide
Karol Lipiński is significant as a Polish virtuoso violinist and composer who achieved international recognition during the partitions of Poland. His meeting and rivalry with Niccolò Paganini placed him among the foremost violinists of the era, and dedications from Paganini, Robert Schumann, and Henryk Wieniawski attest to his influence. His appointment in Dresden as concertmaster and kapellmeister marked a shift from touring to chamber music, particularly Beethoven's string quartets. His compositions, though partly lost, include violin concertos, trios, and operas that reflect his technical mastery. The naming of the Karol Lipiński University of Music in Wrocław after him underscores his lasting legacy in Polish musical education. Recordings of his major works by violinist Konstanty Andrzej Kulka and others have revived interest in his output.
Did You Know?
- Paganini dedicated his Burlesque Variations on 'La Carnaval de Venise', Op. 10 to Lipiński, and Lipiński later dedicated his 'Three Caprices for Violin' to Paganini.
- In 1818, Lipiński received instruction from Dr Mazzurana, a ninety-year-old former pupil of Giuseppe Tartini who could no longer play but criticized Lipiński's performance of a Tartini sonata.
- Robert Schumann was so impressed by Lipiński that he dedicated Carnaval, Op. 9 to him.
- Lipiński owned two famous violins: one made in 1715 by Antonio Stradivari and another by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, both known as 'ex-Lipinski'.
- Henryk Wieniawski dedicated his Polonaise de concert, Op.4 to Lipiński.
More in Classical Composers 1-20
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record