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.