The Piccinni Prize – for excellence in the performing arts returns in 2025 with a completely new vision. Now in its 43^rd year, the prize is awarded annually as part of the Garda Festival, the International Festival of Music and Dance of Lake Garda, an event with international scope aimed at enriching the artistic, musical and cultural offer of the region. Established in Belgium in 1967, the Piccinni Prize is awarded each year to outstanding figures in the field of music and performing arts, and counts among its prize-winners world-famous artists such as director Franco Zeffirelli, conductor Georges Prêtre, violinist Uto Ughi and singers of the calibre of Leyla Gencer, Joan Sutherland, Carlo Bergonzi, Christa Ludwig, Franco Corelli and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. 

The first appointment is set for 16^th January, Niccolò Piccinni’s birthday. In Milan, at the Palazzo di Brera, the new Piccinni ambassadors will be appointed to make up the Piccinni Prize Comité d’Honneur, which will have the task of selecting an outstanding figure in performing arts able to inspire with their creativity and professionalism. Together with the Piccinni ambassadors, the Comité d’Honneur will also include Maximilien Seren-Piccinni, President of the Niccolò Piccinni Fund and director and artistic director of the Garda Festival, Simone Di Crescenzo, Committee Coordinator, pianist and musicologist, as well as members of the Piccinni Fund and the Piccinni family.

Also present on 16^th January, in addition to those mentioned above, will be the 19 new Piccinni ambassadors. These include Federico Freni, Undersecretary of State for Economy and Finance, Dominique Meyer, Superintendent of Milan’s La Scala Theatre, Andrea Cigni, Superintendent and artistic director of the Ponchielli Theatre of Cremona, Monteverdi Festival, Alberto Triola, professor of Bologna University, formerly Superintendent and artistic director, Mario Resca, President of Mondadori Retail and Confimprese, formerly Director General of the Ministry of Culture, Stefania Bonfadelli, opera singer and director, Giampaolo Fogliardi, founder of the Garda Festival and Honourable Member of the Italian Republic.