THE NEW VIOTTI INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION

on the bicentennial of Giovan Battista Viotti

In 2024, the city of Vercelli celebrates an iconic figure in classical music, Giovan Battista Viotti, on the bicentennial of his death.

Viotti, born in 1755 in Fontanetto Po, a few kilometers from Vercelli, was a world-renowned violinist and composer, recognized for having exerted a significant influence on the French violin school and for being a key figure in the transition from classicism to musical romanticism.

The decision to dedicate this year’s International Competition to Viotti is not only a tribute to his legacy but also a recognition of his lasting impact on the violin repertoire and instrumental technique; a symbol of artistic excellence and musical innovation.

The Violin Competition 2024 consists of several stages, starting with a preliminary selection and ending with the semi-finals and grand final with orchestra. Each stage of the competition requires participants to interpret compositions that highlight not only their instrumental technique but also their ability to express emotional depth and artistic maturity.

Vercelli, Viotti’s hometown, thus becomes, in this 2024, a point of reference for all those who study and admire violin music in all its aspects, solo, chamber, and with orchestra, from the 1700s to the present day.

Celebrating Viotti through this 74th edition of the Competition is not only a tribute to one of the greatest musicians of his time but also an opportunity to inspire and train the next generation of violinists.