Friday, 25 July at 8 PM Simon Zhu, winner of the Paganini Prize,
at Villa San Michele

On Friday, Villa San Michele presents a special concert in collaboration with the Paganini Prize, the historic international violin competition based in Genoa.

Simon Zhu, winner of the most recent edition, will perform alongside pianist Sophie Pacini as part of the summer concert series A Summer Dream. The event aims to promote the Prize and the cultural image of Genoa, following a path that has led the Paganini Prize to expand its international presence through concerts in major theatres and renowned museums, including the Louvre and the Prado.

The programme includes works by Paganini, Mozart and Brahms, representing the great classical and romantic repertoire. Before the concert, there will be a brief presentation of the 58th edition of the Competition, with contributions from Kristina Kappelin, Director of Villa San Michele and Honorary Consul of Sweden; Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Prize; Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director; and Uto Ughi, President of the International Jury.

“I welcomed with great enthusiasm the proposal to host one of the Paganini Prize concerts at Villa San Michele,” says Kristina Kappelin. “An event of this kind enriches our concert series and brings deserved attention to our museum.”

Giovanni Panebianco adds: “We are honoured to be guests of such a unique place as Villa San Michele, within a festival that is so well regarded. I thank Kristina Kappelin for supporting an initiative that represents an important and original artistic collaboration.”

“It is deeply moving for me to return to this beautiful island,” says Uto Ughi. “Villa San Michele is a poetic, almost magical place. Promoting young violinists is something I have always believed in and supported, including through the foundation that bears my name.”
“This setting perfectly blends history, art, music and landscape,” comments Sylvain Bellenger, Paganini Ambassador and former Director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.

“Simon Zhu is a rare talent, profound and natural in his interpretation,” says Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director of the Prize. “Together with Sophie Pacini, an internationally acclaimed pianist, he will perform a programme that combines classical and romantic styles while celebrating Niccolò Paganini.”

Simon Zhu
Born in Germany in 2001, Simon Zhu stands out for his musical depth and authentic interpretation. Trained in Salzburg and Munich under Ana Chumachenco, he won the Paganini Prize in 2023. Since then, he has performed in prestigious venues such as the Louvre, the Prado and London’s Guildhall, where he played Paganini’s legendary violin Il Cannone for King Charles III with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. He is recognised as one of the most promising young violinists on the international scene.

Sophie Pacini
An Italian‑German pianist, Sophie Pacini studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg with Karl‑Heinz Kämmerling and Pavel Gililov. She has received awards including the ECHO Klassik as “Young Artist of the Year” and the ICMA – International Classical Music Award. Known for her expressive intensity and strong musical temperament, she has performed in major concert halls and international festivals, establishing herself as a passionate and complete artist.

Tickets
Booking is recommended. Tickets (€20; reduced €10 for students and under‑18s) can be purchased at the ticket office half an hour before the concert or in advance daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Return to Naples is possible with the last ferry service.

Info and reservations: Tel. +39 081 8371401 – events@sanmichele.org