With a CV that boasts opening the Chagall exhibition in Milan, a sponsorship by US-based society The Man of the Stradivari and a recent appointment as the concertmaster for one of Italy's most respected concert academies, Italian violinist Lorenzo Meraviglia has carved an incredible name for himself in the classical world.

In fact, at just 20 years old, Lorenzo is one of a very select few who get to play priceless and historically-important violins created by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari - including the Omobono Stradivari 1730, which Lorenzo will be performing on at tomorrow's Uno Stradivari per le Gente concert as part of this year's International Spring Orchestra Festival.

But before he hits the stage at Palazzo Perreira in Valletta along with renowned pianist Andrea Carcano, Lorenzo sits down for an in-depth interview to discuss his childhood, the Accademia Concertante d'Archi di Milano and the amazing violin he has escorted to our shores.

When did you realise you had a passion for music?

This question makes my mind instinctively go back to 15 years ago; to a special and vivid memory of myself as a five-year-old boy, spending my afternoons between drawing and listening to my mother and brother playing together on our grand piano... The same piano which, only a year before, I had chipped by biting it! The chip never got fixed, but I think I chose the violin because the piano didn't taste so good!

It was in September 2001 that I decided to start playing the violin - and I immediately had great ambitions. Yet I learnt very early on that dreams come true only through sacrifices. So, I put aside several hours for practice every day, which, as a child, was not always easy or pleasant... But I am proud of that boy today.

The evolution of a violin player is through his or her daily practice routine, and it was the same for me... After spending more than 10 years playing the violin, I reached the terrifying goal of 11 hours of daily practice, particularly in the period preceding my last exam taken at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatoire in Milan (a musical academy attended by the most promising young musicians), which I attended alongside High School.

You've recently been appointed concertmaster of the Accademia Concertante d'Archi di Milano (ACAM) chamber orchestra, a position which allows you to play some of Stradivari's surviving violins. What can you tell us about this role?

Usually the concertmaster of an orchestra has an important role in the preparation and training of the orchestra and its members. But, according to me, the true first violin is not only an authority but, more importantly, a person and a friend who shares his musical ideas with his peers, and who has a great influence on his colleagues. In fact, this is the model I chose to develop since I was appointed concertmaster of the ACAM.

Over its 30-year-history, the ACAM has also worked on establishing many (and sometimes secret) relations with some of the richest, private and state instrument collections in the world. Through this prestigious appointment, I also get the opportunity to play some of the best Stradivarius violins from the 50 that are still playable.

Your activities are sponsored by The Man of the Stradivari. What does this music society do, and why is it important to showcase Stradivari's amazing creations and their voice to international audiences?

The Man of the Stradivari is a musical society located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it plays a major role in keeping in touch with international instrument collections. It does this with two main aims: the first so that it can provide a Stradivarius instrument when a deserving artist of the ACAM has important concerts and tours outside Italy; and the second is to help its artists organise their musical circuits and expeditions across the USA. Nevertheless, I cannot say much more as its workings are often kept secret.

Another of ACAM's main missions is sharing and bringing to the fore the extraordinary voice and quality of Italian violin-making through the name of its well-renowned artist [Stradivari], while it itself uses the echo and popularity of Stradivari to promote its most distinguished artists.

You'll soon be in to Malta to perform during the International Spring Orchestra Festival (ISO Festival). While here, you'll be playing on the Omobono Stradivari 1730. What's special about this violin?

The last time I had the pleasure to be in Malta was for the A Stradivari Among Us concert in 2015; a significant event where the protagonist was the 1715 "ex-Bazzini - De Vito" Stradivarius played by maestro Matteo Fedeli. Back then, I played in the ACAM orchestra for the first time on a very valuable - but modern - Arnaldo Morano 1957 violin. This time round, however, I got the opportunity to come back to the beautiful island to perform an entire recital, along with pianist Andrea Carcano, as part of the ISO Festival with the incredible Omobono Stradivari 1730.

By "incredible", I am referring to the extraordinary sound qualities of this rare violin: a four-handed masterpiece made by both Antonio Stradivari and his son, Omobono. Very few samples of Stradivari's work are still in existence and, thanks to their great and never-matched phonic and timbric qualities, they have always been objects of eager searches on the part of well-to-do collectors and renowned concert artists. The violin's voice has a wide range of effects in his tone, and painful laments, sibilant whispers, cheerful cries and sweet caresses are but a few nuances of its sound.

The programme will include a number of known, as well as not-so-known, pieces for violin and piano. What are your thoughts on the programme?

I believe that every piece of music is unique so, for me, it's not so simple to choose a programme to perform because I need to have a special connection with every single note and harmony. I strongly believe that music hides a lot of the composer's thoughts and that only a few notes are capable of synthesising words and sensations.

Discovering unplayed masterpieces and giving voice back to unjustly neglected composers is one of my musical missions, as well as a very deep passion of mine. In fact, I get incredibly excited when I find a piece I haven't heard before, or which had been conceived by a not so well-known composer.

This Uno Stradivari per le Gente programme will include Amanda Maier's superb Violin Sonata in B minor, which I love deeply. Maier was the first woman to get a music degree from the Stockholm Conservatory of Music in 1869 but stopped composing music once she became a mother and teaching her sons became her main musical outlet.

Then we also have Sigurd von Koch's Andante, an allegro, cathartic and cyclically perfect piece from the beginning to the end, and Richard Wagner's Albumblatt Romanze, a stunningly beautiful melody melted with consuming passion. But all these discoveries need a milestone of the violin-piano repertoire to compare and highlight their outstanding qualities, which is why the witty and bold Violin Sonata N°1 op 12 composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1798 was chosen.

What's next for you after your trip to Malta?

I have big plans for the future! Right after Malta, I will be performing at the Società del Giardino, one of the most exclusive clubs in Milan, as well as the Royal Castle of Racconigi in Piedmont and in the cathedrals of Pavia and Reggio Emilia. In addition, ACAM is planning tours in Malta, Austria and the USA, so watch this space!

The ISO Festival is supported by The Ministry for Finance, the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU, Arts Council Malta, the ADRC Trust, Malta Enterprise, the Central Bank of Malta, the Ministry for Education and Employment, the Office of the Prime Minister, Griscti Advocates & Associates, the French Embassy and Michael's in Valletta.

Uno Stradivari per la Gente will take place tomorrow at Palazzo Perreira in Valletta and is supported by the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit and the Accademia Concertante d'Archi di Milano. This concert is sold out.