The Premio Paganini in Monte Carlo: Triumphant Success at the Salle Garnier in the Presence of Prince Albert II

Monte Carlo, May 14, 2026 – Last night’s concert by the winner of the 2025 Premio Paganini at the Salle Garnier in Monte Carlo was an extraordinary success, drawing a sold-out audience and attended by the Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

The evening featured young violinist Aozhe Zhang, who performed alongside the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alessandro Bonato.

The audience enthusiastically welcomed the performance of Niccolò Paganini’s celebrated Violin Concerto No. 1, rewarding the soloist with long and heartfelt applause; the second half of the program featured Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 “Italian”.

Among those attending the Salle Garnier were a distinguished audience, several Government Authorities of the Principality, and the Italian Ambassador to Monaco.

“It was a memorable concert in a theater that is truly a jewel. We had the honor of the presence of Prince Albert II, to whom I conveyed greetings from Mayor Salis,” stated Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Paganini Prize. “I would like to thank the Institutions of the Principality and the offices of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra who, together with Daniela Memmo D’Amelio, worked in synergy to make this emotional moment possible. Once again, the Paganini Prize confirms itself as an impeccable protagonist on the international stage,” he concluded.

“Monte Carlo welcomed Genoa and the Premio Paganini with great enthusiasm and warmth. It was a magical evening marked by cultural diplomacy. Together with President Panebianco, we presented H.S.H. Prince Albert II with copies of the recently published volumes on the Ledger Book and the Proceedings of the International Symposium dedicated to the Cannone,” said Daniela Memmo D’Amelio, Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Principality of Monaco and Paganini Ambassador.

Director Nicola Bruzzo expressed his gratitude to Didier de Cottine, Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, “for the wonderful collaboration and deep artistic understanding that accompanied this project from its very beginning,” also extending “special thanks to Maestro Alessandro Bonato, a conductor of great charisma, and to the magnificent Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.”

Founded in 1856, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the Principality’s leading musical institutions, internationally recognized for its artistic excellence and its rich symphonic and operatic activity.

On the podium was Alessandro Bonato, one of the most promising Italian conductors of the new generation, distinguished by his interpretative energy and attention to detail. He is Music Director of the Haydn Orchestra and has collaborated with major symphonic and theatrical institutions across Europe and around the world.

Born in China in 2008, Aozhe Zhang has attracted worldwide attention thanks to an extraordinarily precocious artistic career. Winner of numerous international competitions, he has already collaborated with major orchestras and stands out for his brilliant technique and remarkable interpretative maturity. His victory at the 2025 Paganini Prize confirms the role of the Genoese competition as a launching platform for great violin talents. The Monaco event represents a further opportunity to promote the competition’s winner and strengthen cultural ties among international institutions.

Info https://opmc.mc/concert/concert-du-laureat-du-concours-premio-paganini-2025/