Moscow to host Paganini contest for the first time ever

The Russian capital is to host the Niccolo Paganini violinists' contest for the first time ever, jury chairman Sergei Stadler said here today.

Paganini symbolizes the art of violin playing all over the world. We decided to name our contest after Paganini, pinning high hopes on this event, Stadler added.

At the same time, Stadler voiced the hope to the effect that this contest will eventually become something traditional, and that it will acquire an international status, as well.

The list of contenders includes musicians from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Ryazan and Kazakhstan. Yevgeny Sviridov, 14, from St. Petersburg, who is the youngest violin player, has already won several titles.

The musicians will be judged by a rather influential jury comprising well-known violinists Maxim Fedotov, Eduard Grach, Ivry Gitlis of France and Alexander Sokolov, rector of the Moscow Conservatoire.

The two parts of the contest is to last over the November 28-December 2 period.