The Premio Paganini returns to Villa San Michele, home to the Honorary Consulate of Sweden and the museum dedicated to Axel Munthe, a symbolic landmark of the Grand Tour that established Italy at the center of the world's cultural imagination. It is therefore the ideal setting to welcome Genoa's renowned musical institution, one of the most prestigious competitions in the international violin world.
Taking the stage will be Japanese violinist Rino Yoshimoto, Second Prize winner of the 58th Premio Paganini, performing in duo with Russian pianist Sergei Redkin, a highly acclaimed artist with a distinguished international career.
The concert will open with Paganini's celebrated variations "Di tanti palpiti", followed by one of the cornerstones of the German Romantic repertoire, Robert Schumann's Sonata No. 2 in D minor. The melancholic folk lyricism of Londonderry Air, elegantly arranged by Fritz Kreisler, will then give way to Edward Elgar's witty and salon-inspired piece La Capricieuse. The program concludes with La Campanella by Niccolò Paganini, a brilliant example of the virtuosity and elegance of the Genoese master's genius.

"The collaboration between Villa San Michele and the Premio Paganini," emphasizes Kristina Kappelin, "enriches the musical life of our cultural institution with the freshness and extraordinary talent of these young prize winners. I am deeply grateful to President Giovanni Panebianco and Artistic Director Nicola Bruzzo for choosing us as a partner, thereby strengthening Villa San Michele's identity as Capri's foremost cultural stage while simultaneously advancing the legacy of our founder Axel Munthe, who sought to build bridges between the cultures of Northern and Southern Europe."

President Giovanni Panebianco echoes these sentiments:

"The return of the Premio Paganini to Villa San Michele is a testament to the strength of a partnership that, thanks to a multi-year agreement, looks confidently toward the future. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Superintendent Kristina Kappelin who, also in her role as a Paganini Ambassador, believed in the value of this shared journey from the very beginning, contributing through her expertise, sensitivity and extraordinary dedication to strengthening the bond between our institutions. We are proud to share our project with an organization of such high international standing, a meeting point between cultures and a privileged venue for dialogue through art. It is within this perspective that Paganini Abroad has developed, the initiative through which the Premio Paganini brings its identity to leading cultural institutions around the world, helping to promote Italian musical excellence and the name of Genoa on the international stage."

Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director of the Premio Paganini, adds:

"I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire staff of Villa San Michele for the professionalism, availability and enthusiasm with which they have once again welcomed the Premio Paganini this year. We are especially pleased to present to the audience of Anacapri two artists such as Rino Yoshimoto and Sergei Redkin, performers who perfectly embody the international spirit of the Premio and the artistic excellence we are committed to promoting. Through Paganini Abroad, we aim to share the vision that guides the continued evolution of the Premio."

Rino Yoshimoto
Twenty-three-year-old Japanese violinist Rino Yoshimoto has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising talents of her generation. She has performed in prestigious international venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein in Vienna, maintaining an intensive concert career throughout Europe and Asia.
Winner of numerous international competitions, she was awarded Second Prize at the 58th Premio Paganini in 2025, following notable achievements at the Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition and the Isang Yun Competition. Trained in Vienna and at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, she performs on the 1736 Stradivari "Muntz", generously loaned by the Sasakawa Music Foundation.

Sergei Redkin
Born in Krasnoyarsk in 1991, Sergei Redkin is widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation. Winner of major international competitions, including the Maj Lind International Piano Competition, he was awarded Second Prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and the Bronze Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
He regularly performs with distinguished international orchestras and at renowned venues such as Vienna's Musikverein, the Philharmonie de Paris, and the festivals of Verbier and Lucerne. Since 2017, he has served as Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium while maintaining an active international concert and recording career.