A contemporary classical music show that brings the spirit of legendary Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini alive on the stage is set for a rare showcase in Istanbul next month, Today’s Zaman reports.

Titled “Pagagnini,” the show offers the audience a medley of emotions with its unique mix of music from a selection of the greatest compositions by such geniuses as Mozart, Pachalbel, Chopin, Boccherini, Falla, Sarasate and Paganini to such popular genres as rock and folk - with slapstick humor.

The quartet behind the show - led by virtuoso violinist Ara Malikian with fellow violin players Eduardo Ortega and Fernando Clemente and cellist Gartxot Ortiz - created “Pagagnini” in 2007 and have since presented their unique performance at hundreds of venues across the world. Yet next month's one-off performance on December 7 at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall (CRRKS) will be the show's first-ever staging in Turkey.

“Pagagnini,” a joint effort between Malikian and the Madrid-based artists collective Yllana, was created with inspiration from Paganini's own genius, taking as its basis his complex compositions, outstanding personality and amazingly talented interpretations.

Lebanese-born Armenian violinist Malikian, billed as one of the most brilliant and expressive musicians of his generation, spoke about the show and his fascination with the violin in an interview over the phone from his home in Madrid leading up to the group's İstanbul performance.

“The show combines classical music with humor. I think young people are afraid of listening to classical music because they fear that they wouldn't understand it, therefore they wouldn't enjoy it. Combining humor with classical music is one of the many ways of making them realize that this music isn't that difficult to enjoy,” he says.