Newsletter of the Paganini Competition
December 2008
“IV Corda”, the newsletter of the Paganini competition, is dedicated to inform you
about the updated news on the competition that has taken place from September 25th
to October 5th. You will find also some useful information, curiosity and some more.
Final results
1st prize “Premio Paganini” €25.000,00 - Not assigned
2nd prize
Stephanie JEONG (USA) 21 years
Born in New Jersey, she graduated from
Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with
Aaron Rosand and Cho-Liang Lin. She won
many top prizes in national violin
competitions and in 2008 she won the 3rd
prize in the International Violin Competition
“Benjamin Britten” in London. She took part
in many master classes with Pamela Frank,
Elmar Oliveira e Paul Kantor. She has
played as a soloist in the United States.
She has been awarded the second prize
receiving by the Municipality of Genoa the
amount of € 10.000,00. Stephanie Jeong
has been assigned also the following
special prizes: the special prize of
€2.000,00 offered by “Associazione Amici di
Paganini” for the best interpretation of
Paganini’s Concerto and the special prize of
€ 1.600,00 in memory of Mario Ruminelli
offered by the Ruminelli family to the finalist
with the best place.
Preliminary Stage
W. A. Mozart
N. Paganini
E. Ysaÿe
Concerto in re maggiore K 218 cadenza Joachim
Capriccio n. 15 M.S. 25
Sonata n. 2 per violino solo op. 27
Semifinal Stage
L. van Beethoven
J. S. Bach
C. Saint Saëns
N. Paganini
F. Vacchi
Sonata n. 8 in sol maggiore op. 30
Siciliano e Presto dalla Sonata n. 1 in sol minore BWV 1001
Introduzione e Rondò Capriccioso in la minore op. 28
Capriccio n. 21 e n. 11 M.S. 25
Le Consonanze
Final Stage
J. Brahms
N. Paganini
Concerto in re maggiore op. 77
Concerto n. 1 in re maggiore op. 6 M.S. 21 cadenza Sauret
3rd prize
Sean LEE (USA) anni 21
Born in California, from 2005 he has been
studying at the Juillard School with Itzhak
Perlman. He participated in many master classes
with renowned violinists such as Joseph
Silverstein e Miriam Fried. He played in
numerous concerts in the United States and in
2007 he has performed at the Carnegie Hall. He
also plays as concertmaster in Juilliard School
Orchestra.
Website: www.seanlee.org
He has been awarded the third prize receiving by
the Municipality of Genoa the amount of €
5.000,00.
Preliminary Stage
W. A. Mozart
N. Paganini
E. Ysaÿe
Concerto in la maggiore K 219
cadenza Joachim
Capriccio n. 24 M.S. 25
Sonata n. 3 per violino solo op. 27
Semifinal Stage
C. Debussy
J. S. Bach
C. Saint Saëns
N. Paganini
F. Vacchi
Sonata n. 3 in sol minore
Andante e Allegro dalla Sonata n. 2 in la minore BWV 1003
Introduzione e Rondò Capriccioso in la minore op. 28
Capriccio n. 1 e n. 12 M.S. 25
Le Consonanze
Final Stage
J. Brahms
N. Paganini
Concerto in re maggiore op. 77
Concerto n. 1 in re maggiore op. 6 M.S. 21 cadenza Sauret
Evgeny Sviridov – Francesca Dego – Saen Lee – Stephanie Jeong
Non-ranked finalists
Francesca DEGO (Italy) 19 years
Born in Lecco, she studied at Fairbanks School
for the Performing Arts in San Diego, US and
graduated in 2006 from the Conservatory of
Milan “G. Verdi”. She is now studying at Stauffer
Academy in Cremona and Chigiana Academy in
Siena. She took part in many master classes with
Salvatore Accardo, Shlomo Mintz, Ida Haendel e
Leonidas Kavakos. In 2006 she was in the semifinal in the “Premio Paganini” Competition. She
has performed as a soloist in Italy and abroad.
Website: www.francescadego.com
At the Paganini Competition she has been
awarded the amount of € 1.500,00 assigned by
the Municipality of Genoa to the non ranked
laureates, and she also received a special prize
of € 3.000,00 in memory of Enrico Costa, offered
by the Costa family to the youngest participant
admitted to the final stage.
Preliminary Stage
W. A. Mozart
Concerto in la maggiore K 219 cadenza Gulli
N. Paganini
Capriccio n. 24 M.S. 25
E. YsaÿeSonata n. 3 per violino solo op. 27
Semifinal Stage
C. Debussy
J. S. Bach
M. Ravel Tzigane
N. Paganini
F. Vacchi
Capriccio n. 15 e n. 17 M.S. 25
Le Consonanze
Final Stage
P. I. Čajkovskij
N. Paganini
Concerto in re maggiore op. 35
Concerto n. 1 in re maggiore op. 6 M.S. 21 cadenza Sauret-Accardo
Sonata n. 3 in sol minore
Andante e Allegro dalla Sonata n. 2 in la minore BWV 1003
Saen Lee – Francesca Dego – Evgeny Sviridov – Stephanie Jeong
Evgeny SVIRIDOV (Russian Federation) 19 years
Born in St. Petersburg, he studies at his
native city’s Conservatory “RimskyKorsakov” with Pavel Popov. He took part
in master classes with Helmut Zehetmair e
Stefan Picard. He participated in many
competitions for young musicians and in
2003 he won the 3rd prize in International
Paganini Competition in Moscow. He
played in concerts and recitals in France,
UK and in Russia.
At the Paganini Competition he has been
awarded the amount of € 1.500,00
assigned by the Municipality of Genoa to
the non ranked laureates. Furthermore he
has received a special prize of € 3.000,00
in memory of Renato De Barbieri, offered
by the Government of the Province of
Genoa for the best interpretation of
Capricci and another special prize of €
1.000,00 offered by “Amici Carlo Felice e
del Conservatorio N. Paganini” for the best
interpretation of the commissioned piece
“Le Consonanze” by Fabio Vacchi.
Preliminary Stage
W. A. Mozart
N. Paganini
E. Ysaÿe
Concerto in sol maggiore K 216 cadenza Sviridov
Capriccio n. 5 M.S. 25
Sonata n. 3 per violino solo op. 27
Semifinal Stage
C. Debussy
J. S. Bach
C. Saint Saëns
N. Paganini
F. Vacchi
Sonata n. 3 in sol minore
Andante e Allegro dalla Sonata n. 2 in la minore BWV 1003
Introduzione e Rondò Capriccioso in la minore op. 28
Capriccio n. 24 e n. 1 M.S. 25
Le Consonanze
Final Stage
P. I. Čajkovskij
N. Paganini
Concerto in re maggiore op. 35
Concerto n. 1 in re maggiore op. 6 M.S. 21 cadenza Wilhelmi
T
H
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Grigori Zhislin - Ernö Sebestyén – Zhakar Bron – Giulio Franzetti – Giovanni Guglielmo – Pamela Frank
Piero Bellugi – Nam Yun Kim – Rocco FIlippini
Christopher Columbus Celebrations 2008
52nd International Violin Competition “Premio Paganini”
September 26th - October 5th 2008
Genova – Carlo Felice Theatre
First Stage (Preliminary Stage)
Auditorium Eugenio Montale
Friday, September 26th 3.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Saturday, September 27th 9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28th 9.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
Second Stage (Semifinal)
Carlo Felice Theatre
Tuesday, September 30th 3.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1st 3.00 p.m.
Accompanying pianists
Giovanni Casella
Alessandro Maffei
Ermindo Polidori Luciani
Third Stage (Final)
Carlo Felice Theatre
Christopher Franklin, conductor
Orchestra della Fondazione
Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova
Saturday, October 4th 3.00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5th 3.00 p.m.
So, do you want to be violinist?
Manager, Artistic Agency, parents may have given you suggestions on what it is good
for your career, but here is the opinion of Paganini himself in a letter he wrote to an
Italian violinist, who was asking for some help:
To Carlo Bignami(1)
Marseilles, 4th May 1839
Dear Mr Bignami,
As I have been suffering immensely from rheumatism for more than two months, not
having slept more than 15 hours in that period, I have been unable to reply to your
letter of 19th February. However, I took advantage of a short period of respite to tell
my administrator in Genoa to send you the sum of 400 francs which you must have
received by now: this is in token of the pleasure I had when you so graciously and
played your beautiful variations on your violin.
I am extremely surprised to hear that you, who are so talented and justly considered
the finest violinist in Italy, are unable to support yourself financially!…
Why not get hold of some letters of recommendation and visit some nearby towns,
giving musical ‘matinées’ and ‘soirées’, or Academies. Have yourself accompanied by
a pianist in order to save on the expense of an orchestra!… Two or three songs sung
by an amateur, a couple of pieces at the piano, three brilliant pieces played by yourself
and your violin will shine out much more than if it were accompanied by many different
instruments that do not generally get on well with each other. This is what happens in
all the capitals of Europe.
You should compose some small Duos for two violins in the style of Viotti […] the style
of Viotti is preferable as it is brilliant but not particularly difficult.
Get moving, make acquaintances, do not always hold your violin in your hand, be
more active and enterprising.
By the way, if there were a job for you away from Italy, in Russia for example, and this
were suitable for you and allowed you to build up sufficient capital in eight or ten years
to live comfortably for the rest of your life when you returned to Italy, would you accept
it!?…
Please reply because I do like to be useful and help you if a favorable opportunity
arises.
Please accept my warmest greetings. Your faithful servant
Niccolò Paganini
(1):
Carlo Bignami (1808 – 1848),the was conductor of the Theatre orchestra in
Mantova and of that in Cremona. In 1836 Paganini recommended him as
concertmaster for the ducal orchestra in Parma, but to no avail. The job went to
another violinist.
Excerpt taken from “Epistolario” by Edward Neill, Genova, 1982, edited by Comune di
Genova, p.276.
In brief
On November 1st 2008 the Mayor of Genoa, Mrs. Marta Vincenzi, has conferred the
Genoa honorary citizenship on Salvatore Accardo. 50 years ago Salvatore Accardo
won the International Violin Competition ‘Premio Paganini’ and, consequently, played
the ‘Cannone’, the Guarneri del ‘Gesù’ belonged to Paganini, but the feeling has
remained the same even after so long time.
Judith Bingham has won the British Composer award 2008 for the category
“Instrumental Solo” with the composition “Fantasia (From The Lost Works of
Paganini)”. During Paganiniana 2007 in Genoa, Peter Sheppard Skaerved premiered
this piece playing on the “Cannone” the violin belonged to Niccolò Paganini, in the
presence of the composer.
Feng Ning, winner of the Paganini
Competition 2006, continues his
worldwide tour. He has played with
great success in Europe, Asia and
U.S.A. Furthermore he has recorded
the CD “Hello Mr. Paganini”,
published by Channel of China,
where he paid tribute to the music of
Niccolò Paganini, receiving several
good reviews.
Quarta Corda
Foglio informativo del Concorso Internazionale di Violino ‘Premio Paganini’
Genova 2008, Anno XI, N.2 - Registrazione presso il Tribunale di Genova, autorizzazione n. 9/2003
Direttore Responsabile Cesare Torre - Redazione: Comune di Genova, Ufficio Paganini
Foto: Archivio Comune di Genova, Stefano Goldberg©Publifoto
www.paganini.comune.genova.it - [email protected]
Next issue June 2009