26
years for
an international singing competition can be considered not
only as a decisive moment for a Committee of volunteers in
a provincial city where a genuine love of culture has
always been a major element of social cohesion. More than
this, it is the proof of something serious and of value,
the uniqueness of which has been recognized by all those
who have experienced it from the inside: singers,
musicians, accompanists or jury members.
Is it the atmosphere of Sulmona which makes all its guests
feel ‘at home’, seduced by the charm of its old buildings
and the sweetness of its ‘confetti’ ? Is it the attention
lavished on each candidate by the volunteers of the Maria
Caniglia Association named after the world-famous soprano
born in Abruzzo ? Is it the sense of co-operative spirit
which animates the Jury members allowing them to work in
harmony and without any undue influence? There is no doubt
that the ‘Maria Caniglia’ – as the public like to call the
competition – is unlike any other singing competition.
It is for all this that, over the years, the International
Competition Maria Caniglia has grown significantly both in
level and stature. Today, competitors come from all over
the world knowing that they are taking part in a
competition that is not only of a very high level and
transparent, but also to take part in a real audition which
allows them, as used to be the case, to be noticed by the
artistic directors of the major Italian and European opera
houses, so opening the doors to a glittering career. One
only has to glance at the ‘Livre d’Or ‘ of the Concours
Maria Caniglia to see how these undiscovered talents have
become the stars of the most important opera houses in the
world.
This year, the organizers had to cope with quite different
circumstances. The contributions of the cultural
institutions have drastically been reduced due to the
international and national economical troubles and obliged
them to handle with serious financial problems.
The tenacity, the passion, the seriousness and the honesty
of the organizers, all volunteers, have allowed, once more
time, to keep the competition at the high level of quality
of the previous editions.
A vivid thanks goes to the Banca Popolare di Lanciano e
Sulmona who offered to the Association, with a decisive
sponsoring, together with those of the Provincia
dell’Aquilà and the Fondation CARISPAQ, the possibility to
keep alive this competition which gives luster to our city
and is known as one of the most important cultural event of
our Abruzzo.