PICCINNI PRIZE
FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Piccinni Prize – For excellence in the performing arts, now in its 42nd edition, is a prestigious award instituted by the Niccolò Piccinni Fund in 1967 at the behest of Vittorio Piccinni, a descendant of the well-known composer. The Prize is awarded annually to a personality of excellence in the performing arts, capable of inspiring new generations with their creativity and professionalism.
The Prize is dedicated to the figure of Niccolò Piccinni, not only for his stature as a great composer, but also in memory of his commitment as a promoter of talent in the musical, literary and theatrical spheres throughout the 18th century.
Illustrious prize-winners include the names of Carlo Bergonzi, Sylvano Bussotti, Franco Corelli, Leyla Gencer, Nicolaj Ghiaurov, Christa Ludwig, Giovanni Martinelli, Mady Mesplé, Leo Nucci, Georges Prêtre, Renzo Rossellini, Joan Sutherland, Uto Ughi and Franco Zeffirelli.
The Prize is awarded during a gala evening by the Comité d’Honneur composed of the President and members of the Niccolò Piccinni Fund, the winners of past editions and the Piccinni Ambassadors in the world, i.e. artists, musicologists and institutional personalities of repute.
After an interruption of about twenty years, in 2022 President Maximilien Seren-Piccinni chose to reinstate the Prize by having a medal made entirely of silver, taking inspiration from a commemorative effigy from 1823 designed by Armand Auguste Caqué, aka Caqué F., depicting Niccolò Piccinni with his name in Latin.
Since 2023, the Piccinni Prize has been officially awarded as part of the Garda Festival – Lake Garda International Music and Dance Festival.
