A Day of Studies Dedicated to the “Cannone”
At the heart of the Premio Paganini Violin Competition 2025, one of the most significant events within this prestigious international violin competition, an International Study Day dedicated to the celebrated violin of Niccolò Paganini, the “Cannone”, was held at Palazzo Tursi — one of the most iconic and beloved instruments in the history of music.
This initiative forms part of the cultural programme alongside the 58th edition of the competition, which takes place in Genoa from 14 to 26 October 2025 and attracts young virtuosi from all over the world.
A Scientific and Cultural Dialogue on Historic Heritage
The study day, organised in collaboration with IGIIC – the Italian Group of the International Institute for Conservation, offered participants a high-level scientific, technical, and cultural exchange on the conservation, diagnostics, and restoration of historic bowed string instruments, with particular attention to Paganini’s “Cannone”.
In the magnificent Salone di Rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi, beneath the gaze of the icon housed in the Musei di Strada Nuova — the very violin that Paganini wished to bequeath to his home city “so that it may be perpetually preserved” in his will — scholars, restorers, and conservators debated innovative and traditional approaches to preserving this extraordinary musical and cultural heritage for future generations.
Alberto Giordano’s Participation
Among the notable contributions, Alberto Giordano participated as curator of the “Cannone”, bringing his experience as a luthier and expert on the instrument’s history. His contribution offered colleagues and the public an in-depth perspective on the historical context, conservation history, and cultural importance of the 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin — a perennial protagonist of the Premio Paganini.
The day included thematic presentations, round tables with international experts, and moments of dialogue with students and professionals, underlining the importance of exchange between institutions, curators, restorers, and scholars in safeguarding instruments of exceptional value.
A Moment for Reflection and Sharing
This conference represents a significant moment for the city of Genoa and for the entire world of lutherie and music: not merely a technical examination, but also an occasion for reflection on the role of historic instruments in contemporary culture and on the educational value of engaging with the challenges of conservation in the twenty-first century.
