December 13rd 2009 The 'Cannone' in concert Sunday, December 13rd 2009 at 5 pm the 'Cannone', the Guarneri 'del Gesù" violin owned by Paganini, has been played in a concert by the Duo Trabucco - Scanu during the closing ceremony for the fifty anniversary of the opening of the Palazzo Spinola Gallery. The concert was given in the presence of mr. Bruno Cilento, head of the Federal Monuments and Fine Arts Office and Mrs. Farida Simonetti, director of the Gallery. Before the concert, professor Marco Fioravanti of the University of Florence (Department of Agricultural and Forest Economy, Engineering Sciences and Technology), who is in charge of the program of surveillance and research on the 'Cannone' made a brief speech introducing the results of the studies made during the recent years and that will be presented in an international conference in Genoa next spring. In the magnificent setting of the Spinola Palace, that has been included in the list of the Palazzi dei Rolli on the World Heritage List since 2006, the audience have the chance to listen to some of the most unique music for violin and classic guitar written by Paganini. The Duo, violinist Mario Trabucco and guitarist Josè Scanu, has dedicated most of their career indeed introducing and enhancing the Paganini's repertoire for violin and guitar. Furthermore, since 1972 Mario Trabucco is the curator of the 'Cannone', the instrument that, starting from the year 2004, is on display together with others Paganini's memorabilia in the Museums of Strada Nuova at Palazzo Tursi. The Duo Trabucco/Scanu has started their career twenty years ago, and this is the best way to celebrate their partnership, wishing each and everyone all the best for the new year! ***** Program Niccolò Paganini (1782 - 1840) from the 18 Sonate of the Centone di Sonate M.S.112 Sonata n.1 in A minor Sonata n.4 in A minor Sonata Concertata in A major M.S. 2 from 6 Sonate alla ragazza Eleonora op.3 M.S. 27 Sonata n. 4 in A minor Sonata n. 6 in E major www.duotrabuccoscanu.it www.palazzospinola.it www.museidigenova.it www.irolli.it November 1 2008 Celebrating 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. On Saturday, November 1st 2008 the Mayor of Genoa, Mrs. Marta Vincenzi, has conferred the Genoa honorary citizenship on Salvatore Accardo. The ceremony took place in the Main Hall (Salone di Rappresentanza) at Palazzo Tursi, the seat of the Municipality of Genoa. The Hall was packed and the ceremony has been held in the presence of a mixed audience, common people, fans, leading musical and cultural figures and friends of the violinist, such as the Italian composer Fabio Vacchi and the renowned architect Renzo Piano. Salvatore Accardo, accompanied by Laura Manzini on the piano, played on the ‘Cannone’ the Sonata in A major n.2 op.100 ‘Thuner-Sonate’ by Brahms, I Palpiti and La Campanella by Paganini performing other pieces by Paganini as encore. After the performance the violinist has been quite willing to be interviewed by the musicologist Alberto Cantù, telling the audience some funny stories about his career, and his bond of affection with the city of Genoa, with the Paganini Competition and with the ‘Cannone’. He has received several gifts, among them a reproduction of the picture taken in 1958, just after winning the Paganini Competition. The picture has been taken during the first performance with the ‘Cannone’ in the same Hall where he has received the honorary citizenship. The event has been organized by the City of Genoa and the Association ‘Amici di Paganini’. Quotes Photo Gallery