Simon Zhu took centre stage at the Festival Paganiniano of Carro. On 27th July, at 9:00pm, at the Piazza della Chiesa, the winner of the 57th edition of the Premio Paganini enthralled the audience, accompanied by Valentina Messa on pianoforte. The program included compositions by Janáček and Paganini.

 Present at the Premio Paganino was the Director of the Genoa Conservatoire, Roberto Tagliamocco, member of the Committee, who stated: “A special concert bringing together the “Festival di Carro” and the “Concorso Paganini”, named after the Genoese violinist whose origins can be found in the town of Carro. But also a special concert because of the program, which, thanks to the winner of the latest Concorso Paganini, Simon Zhu, and pianist Valentina Messa, alternates between pieces from the Paganini repertoire and rarely heard yet fascinating compositions.”

 The Artistic Director of the Premio Paganini, Nicola Bruzzo, was pleased, and expressed, already with a view to the future: “The concert at the Festival Paganiniano of Carro, in addition to being an ideal ‘homecoming’ for the famous violinist, is a stop on the musical tour of concerts reserved for the winner of the Competition. We are working to best set up the new schedule for the Premio’s next edition”.

 The President of Friends of the Festival Paganniano of Carro, Monica Amari Staglieno, pointed out that “The opportunity for the Festival Paganiniano of Carro to host a concert by the winner of the Premio Paganini underscores how collaborations of excellence are the winning strategy for internationalizing the Vara valley, in whose villages the Festival takes place, a fascinating event attracting audiences from near and far.”