Genoa, 4 September 2025

The inaugural meeting of the new Premio Paganini Committee was held today at 2:30 p.m. at the Palazzo Doria Carcassi headquarters. The meeting was chaired by Professor Giovanni Panebianco, to whom Mayor Silvia Salis has entrusted her proxy, renewing the role he had previously held.

The session was opened with remarks by the Councillor for Culture, Giacomo Montanari. Participants included: representing the Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice, Superintendent Michele Galli and Artistic Director Federico Pupo; representing the Fondazione Palazzo Ducale, Elvira Bonfanti; representing the Conservatorio Paganini, Director Luigi Giachino; representing the Giovine Orchestra Genovese, Nicola Costa; as well as the other Committee members: Carlo Clavarino, Enrico De Barbieri, Francesco Micheli, and Martine Orsini. Also in attendance were Gloria Piaggio, Secretary General of the Premio, and Nicola Bruzzo, whose reappointment as Artistic Director was unanimously approved by the Committee.

At the invitation of the President, Michele Trenti, representing the “Amici di Paganini” Association, and Roberto Tagliamacco, Deputy Director of the Genoa Conservatory, also spoke.

The Committee decided to postpone the exhibition project entitled “Paganini and Virtuosity” to the 2026–2027 period, focusing it around the reinstallation of the Paganini Rooms. However, all other initiatives related to the event — taking place in Genoa from 14 to 26 October — were confirmed, including the presentation of the volume on Paganini’s Libro Mastro (23 October) and the International Study Day on the “Cannone” violin (24 October).

The Committee confirmed that this year’s edition, in addition to the traditional awards ceremony on the evening of the final (25 October), will also feature a benefit concert with the “Cannone”, followed by a gala event aimed at fundraising for the Gaslini Children’s Hospital (26 October).

Lastly, the appointment of new Paganini Ambassadors was confirmed, along with the selection of the Royal Opera House of Muscat (Oman) as Guest of Honour for the 58th edition of the Premio.