International Lyric Competition Giuditta Pasta

Adding further prestige to the fifth edition is a jury composed of leading figures in the world of opera — superintendents, artistic directors, managers and conductors who work at the top of major institutions.

The jury will be chaired by Maestro Giovanni Cultrera, Superintendent of the Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, one of Italy’s most historic and prestigious opera houses. A pianist and cultural manager with many years of experience, he is now at the forefront of the artistic renewal of the Catania theatre.

Maestro Shinichi Sakuma, General Director of the Kumamoto City Opera (Japan), represents one of the most significant realities on the Asian opera scene, bringing an international vision and a direct bridge to the opera world of the Far East to the jury.

Lisa Navach, Production Director of the Grand Opéra Avignon (France), plays a central role in the design and realisation of opera productions of European importance. Her expertise in the artistic and production management of a major French institution offers a concrete and highly qualified perspective on the selection and promotion of voices on the international circuit.

Marco Vinco, Artistic Director of the Associazione Arena Sferisterio in Macerata, oversees the programming of one of Europe’s most prestigious and renowned summer opera festivals. His experience in defining high-profile artistic seasons makes him an authoritative reference point for identifying artists destined for the big stage.

Angelo Taddeo, Artistic Director of the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, represents one of the most iconic opera events in the world, dedicated to the legacy of Giacomo Puccini and a symbol of the great Italian opera tradition.

Adriana Molina, founder of her own artistic agency in Madrid, is active in the international representation and promotion of opera singers, with a well-established network of collaborations in Europe and beyond.

Giorgio Trucco, founder of Trucco Management, is a leading figure in the Italian opera agency scene, with artists performing in major national and international theatres.

Maestro Roberto Gianola, Permanent Director of the Izmir State Opera (Turkey), combines significant international conducting experience with a deep knowledge of the European and Mediterranean opera repertoire.

Maestro Stefano Nigro, conductor and composer, completes the committee with his solid musical expertise gained through intense artistic activity and constant work with singers and the opera repertoire.

The connection between Giuditta Pasta and Saronno dates back to 1797, the year of her birth. The city theatre, the International Competition and a museum exhibition housing over six hundred works from the Giorgio Cavallari Collection have been dedicated to this great performer. Giuditta Pasta graced the world’s most prestigious stages; Donizetti wrote Anna Bolena for her, Bellini composed La Sonnambula and Norma, operas in which she was a legendary performer thanks to her dramatic power and expressive intensity.

Naming the International Opera Singing Competition after her is not only a tribute to her memory, but also an act of vision: it affirms Saronno’s desire to preserve its cultural heritage and, at the same time, to invest in the future of opera, offering new generations of performers the opportunity to test themselves on a truly international stage.