"I cast my mind back to the time of my participation to the Paganini competition and to my stay in Italy with pleasure: I have good memories of the architecture, the very peculiar Genoese atmosphere, the Italian cooking, the mild weather, the sea, the public... The "Bravo" which the composer Luigi Cortese tributed me when I played his "Capriccio" during the semifinal trial. I will never forget Paganini's Guarneri del Gesù, which I was allowed to play after being awarded with the First Prize and then, on the occasion, of the two official concerts played in February 1974 accompanied by the Orchestra Sinfonica of the Theatre of Genoa, conducted by Gaetano Delogu. The Premio Paganini did play an important role in my life. Up to now the responsibility I feel towards Niccolò Paganini has been one of the criteria which my personal evaluation method is based upon, both as a violinist and as a teacher"