Oct 165 min read

Premio Paganini 58th festival launched at the London Italian Embassy

Updated: Oct 22

by Marysia Zipser

The Ambassador of Italy

Inigo Lambertini

requests the pleasure of your company at

an event to celebrate

Niccolò Paganini in London

With the President of the Premio Paganini

Giovanni Panebianco

on the occasion of the launch of the

58th edition of the Premio Paganini

International Violin Competition 14-26 October 2025

Celebrating the strong bond of friendship between Genoa and London, the Italian Embassy in London, in the presence of the Ambassador Inigo Lambertini, presented a special occasion to mark the 58th edition festival launch of Premio Paganini. It celebrates 70 years after the first edition of the violin competition dedicated to Niccolò Paganini, who performed with his violin, the “Cannone,” several times in London in the period between 1831 and 1834 during the course of his legendary European tour, just as, in 1980, Renato de Barbieri played in honour of Queen Elizabeth II during the British sovereign’s memorable visit to Genoa.

Last November the Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci, within the scope of the collaboration agreement signed at Palazzo Tursi on December 22, 2022, with Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli, participated in “The Lord Mayor’s Show,” the historic event held to mark the election of the Mayor of the City of London. This time, the Deputy Mayor of Genoa, Pietro Piciocchi, had the pleasure of introducing this important occasion after Ambassador Lambertini, with supporting speeches from among

Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Paganini Prize

Maestro Uto Ugh, International Jury Chair Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director

Antonio Pappano, Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra

Kathryn Mc Dowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra

Simon Zhu, winner of the 2023 Premio Paganini, then played Paganini’s Cannone to give a magnificent flourish to a wonderful reception.

From October 14, 2024, until February 11, 2025, violinists from all over the world, aged 15 to 30, will be able to register for the 58th edition of the Competition, which has already received the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. As always, the heart of the competition will be the Teatro

Carlo Felice with its extraordinary orchestra.The final stages will take place in Genoa from October 14 to 26, 2025. The notice includes a pre-selection phase between April and May 2025, during which candidates will be heard live at Italian Cultural Institutes in New York, Seoul, and Berlin, as well as in Guangzhou and finally in Genoa, at the Conservatory’s headquarters. Only 24 violinists will be admitted to the final stages starting on October 14, 2025.

The next Competition will dedicate more space to chamber music, which will test the candidates’ reciprocal listening skills, as well as trials where young violinists will be required to demonstrate musical and communicative aspects often overlooked in competitions of this calibre. Further novelties concern special prizes: in addition to the usual ones and the provision of engagements at some of the most prestigious national and international musical institutions, for the first time the winner of the Competition will be offered a recording contract with a major international record label.

I had the chance to speak afterwards to 23 year old Simon Zhu, who is based in Munich. He was looking forward with a little nervousness, but with great honour, to Tuesday night’s concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at The Guildhall, marking 120 years of the LSO. Zhu performed the first movement from Paganini’s first violin concerto on an 18th-century violin dubbed Il Cannone (The Cannon), which was named after its explosive sound and inspired many of Paganini’s compositions.

Simon commented to me later this week after Tuesday's Gala Concert at The Guildhall,

"It was a surreal experience for me. To be able to play on one of the most prize violins of all time with the London Symphony Orchestra, which is one of the best orchestras in the World with Maestro Antonio Pappano and in presence of the King, his Majesty, Charles III is still a little bit unbelievable to me. I think this memory will stay with me forever. I remember when I went on stage, I saw King Charles, directly in front of where I was standing. There was a two minute introduction from the orchestra, so while I was just standing there, I reminded myself to not stare at his Majesty. But when I met the King, he was so nice, kind and genuinely interested in me, which made me feel so happy and excited! I am so grateful for everyone who made such a special evening happening, it was such an honour to be part of it in one of my favourite cities! I hope the listeners enjoyed it equally as much as me."

King Charles III, as Patron of the LSO, and marking its 120 years, attended Tuesday’s special performance of classical music, which also celebrated the cultural relations between London and the city of Genoa. Please see the social media of the Gala Concert of 15th October at The Guildhall, from LSO, Premio Paganini, Italian Embassy. https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2024-10-16/the-king-attends-a-london-symphony-orchestra-concert

Paganini’s music was firmly in my thoughts again when I remembered my Genoa visit of last September at Palazzo Tursi in their public Paganini museum, related in my photos below. I am hoping to revisit Genoa next January to firm up further research for my book “From Pine Nuts to Palaces”.

Monday evening was a great success and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The Embassy is the epitome of Italian and international cultural relations, socialising and networking in the Grand Manner. The hospitality shown reaches far and wide and I made three new friends on this occasion, adding to my Italian best friends who also personally introduced me to the Ambassador Inigo Lambertini and to the Deputy Mayor of Genoa. Grazie amici miei.

That afternoon until this particular event, I had attended the magnificent new visual art exhibition ‘Capricci Genovesi’ at DSQube EC2, until 31 October, featuring a collection of original artworks by multi-award winning photographer, Fulvio Magurno, printed on sustainable Candiani jeans canvas. It was curated by my good friend Francesca Centurione Scotto-Boschieri, Ambassador of Genoa in the World. Ottimo lavore! Please see my Facebook Art Culture Tourism - International post which includes my photos and short videos.