Simon Zhu in concert at Villa San Michele: the Paganini Prize stops in Anacapri with a tribute to Mozart, Brahms, and Paganini.

On Friday 25 July at 8 pm, Villa San Michele will host a special concert organised in collaboration with the Paganini Prize , a historic Genoese violin competition.

The winner of the last competition, Simon Zhu , will perform with pianist Sophie Pacini as part of the concert series "A Summer to Dream," an ideal context for promoting the Prize and the image of Genoa. This initiative is part of a process that has seen the Paganini Prize strengthen its presence in Italy and abroad, taking center stage at events in major theaters, as well as at prestigious museums such as the Louvre and the Prado.

The concert will feature music by major composers of the classical and romantic repertoire, particularly Paganini , Mozart , and Brahms . It will be preceded by a presentation of the 58th Competition, which will be attended by Kristina Kappelin, Superintendent of the house museum; Giovanni Panebianco, President of the Prize; Nicola Bruzzo, Artistic Director; and Uto Ughi , President of the International Jury.

"I enthusiastically welcomed the proposal to host one of the concerts of the prestigious Premio Paganini competition at Villa San Michele," emphasizes Kristina Kappelin . "An event like this can only enhance our exhibition and put our museum in the spotlight on a very significant occasion."

Giovanni Panebianco echoes his sentiments: " We are delighted and honored to be guests at such a charming venue as Villa San Michele, as part of such a popular music festival. I thank Kristina Kappelin for sharing and supporting an initiative that undoubtedly represents a significant and unprecedented collaboration in the artistic and musical fields."

"I am delighted to return to this wonderful land, and Villa San Michele is a truly poetic, I would even say magical, place. Being here as President of the International Jury of the Paganini Prize is deeply moving. I remember my first participation, as a juror of the Competition, won by a very young Ilya Grubert. It was way back in 1977. We must promote and support the younger generations of violinists: this is what I have always believed in and to which I am strongly committed, also through the Foundation that bears my name," says Uto Ughi .

“ This is an extraordinary place and the combination of history, art, music and landscape could not have found a better synthesis” – comments Sylvain Bellenger , Paganini Ambassador, former General Director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.

"Simon Zhu is a talent of rare depth. He will perform with Sophie Pacini, an excellent pianist with an international career, in a program that perfectly synthesises the classical and romantic styles and celebrates the figure of Niccolò Paganini," comments Nicola Bruzzo , Artistic Director of the Prize.

The concert series will take place every Friday until August 8 , with musical consultancy by Bo Löfvendahl , thanks to the contribution of Progetto Piano and the patronage of the Swedish Embassy .

Reservations are essential for concerts. Tickets (full price €20.00; reduced price €10.00 for children and students) can be purchased at the box office half an hour beforehand, or in advance, daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Those arriving from Naples can return on the last ferry. For information: tel. 081.8371401 www.villasanmichele.eu