David Garret plays violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, perhaps the first rock star in music history.

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Niccolò Paganini makes a Faustian pact with his manager Urbani (Jared Harris), who then wants to present his charge to London audiences against his will. A commotion breaks out in front of the concert hall, as voices from the crowd repeatedly shout out "Paganini is immoral and worships the devil!". Paganini finds shelter with a British impresario (Christian McKay) and his lover (Veronica Ferres), where the lascivious violinist falls for the singer Charlotte (Andrea Deck), much to the consternation of his manager, who devises an evil plan.

This rich costume drama from British director Bernard Rose (who has also filmed the life of Ludwig van Beethoven) only has a few hitches: David Garrett can’t be faulted for his metrosexual aura, but the director overdoes things by having him constantly hang around lustily in a series of bedrooms after the next catch of the day. Rather than being erotic, the result is rather tiring.