Tuesday 25 / February / 2025
Muscat: In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Premio Paganini, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) launched the international project Paganini for Everyone to honour the legacy of Niccolò Paganini, the virtuoso violinist, composer, and innovator who profoundly influenced the world of classical music.
This project also paid tribute to the prestigious international competition named after him, dedicated to young violin talents from around the world.
The initiative was part of ROHM’s Emerging Talents programme, designed to build meaningful connections between international artists and Oman, inspire audiences of all generations to discover new talent, and promote cultural and creative enrichment.
The collaboration between ROHM and the Premio Paganini successfully combined history, culture, and music, with a special focus on future generations of Omani musicians.
Among the key events was the concert by Simon Zhu, the 2023 Premio Paganini winner, who had previously performed an extraordinary concert in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III in London.
During that performance, he played the legendary Cannone, Niccolò Paganini’s violin crafted by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù in 1743, alongside the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano.
His performance in Muscat took place on February 24, 2025, accompanied by pianist Gile Bae. The concert, open to the public, featured a programme curated by Artistic Director Nicola Bruzzo, including works by Brahms, Paganini, and Szymanowski.
Paganini for Everyone was a successful project, with activities at the opera house beginning in December and building up to the culmination of a concert on February 24. The project commenced with a well-attended talk in early December, Who is Paganini?
The Works and Legacy of the Great Violinist, with Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Premio Paganini, and art historian Emmanuel Ducamp.
On January 14, audiences enjoyed a combined talk, workshop, and musical interlude in the music library.
The event, Paganini’s Violins and Italian Violin Making, featured a dual session with Enrico De Barbieri, member of the Premio Paganini Committee, and Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director of the Prize, and included a special workshop for Omani violin students with Alberto Giordano, conservator of the 1743 Guarneri del Gesù Cannone.
As the concert approached, a second workshop took place on February 23, where the extraordinary artists Zhu and Bae conducted a masterclass for aspiring violin students from across the region. This was followed by a talk and musical interlude at 5:00 PM in the ROHM Music Library.
The talk, The Premio Paganini: A 70-Year History, was led by Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Premio Paganini, and was open to the public with free registration.
The evening also included a short musical performance by a student violinist from the Royal Muscat Philharmonic Orchestra.
Among the key events was the concert by Simon Zhu, the 2023 Premio Paganini winner, who had previously performed an extraordinary concert in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III in London.
During that performance, he played the legendary Cannone, Niccolò Paganini’s violin crafted by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù in 1743, alongside the REVIEWED PR London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano.
His performance in Muscat took place on February 24, 2025, accompanied by pianist Gile Bae.
The concert, open to the public, featured a programme curated by Artistic Director Nicola Bruzzo, including works by Brahms, Paganini, and Szymanowski. The final stage of the project is planned to take place in Genoa, Italy, in October 2025, coinciding with the 58th edition of the competition.
History of the Premio Paganini
Founded in 1953, the Premio Paganini is recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious violin competitions. Since its inception, it has celebrated extraordinary violinists, serving as a springboard for the careers of many young talents and representing a symbol of Italian culture worldwide.
Umberto Fanni, Director General of the Royal Opera House Muscat explained the significance of this project: “Through Paganini for Everyone, the ROHM and the Premio Paganini have not only created a cultural bridge between Italy and Oman but also celebrated the legacy of Niccolò Paganini’s musical genius, offering Omani audiences a unique opportunity to discover his life, works, and the history of the prestigious competition that has been organised in his honour in his hometown, Genoa, for 70 years.
It is a privilege to play our part in honouring such a legend”
