Cellist Ettore Pagano Named Best Soloist at Italy's Franco Abbiati Music Critics' Prize

Other prizewinners include Emmanuel Tjeknavorian and the Jack Quartet

Now in its 44th edition, the Franco Abbiati Music Critics’ Prize was named after an Italian musicologist who was a critic for the Corriere della Sera newspaper for nearly four decades. They assessed productions, concerts, and events within Italy during 2024.

Cellist Ettore Pagano received the coveted award for the best soloist. Hailing originally from Rome, the 22-year-old began studying the cello aged nine, and graduated from the city's Conservatorio Santa Cecilia with Distinction and an honorable mention.

He has received a number of distinctions, including winning First Prize, the Prize for Best Sonata, and two other Special Prizes at the XVIII Khachaturian International Competition in Armenia.

Pagano received the Artist Diploma at the Stauffer Academy in Cremona, where his teacher was Antonio Meneses — and he has also worked extensively with Enrico Dindo at the Pavia Cello Academy.

Other award-winners include Emmanuel Tjeknavorian (best conductor), the Jack Quartet (best ensemble), and soprano Mariangela Sicilia and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Molinari (best voices).

The 2025 jury comprised Angelo Foletto (chair), the entire board of the National Association of Music Critics:  Andrea Estero (president), Alessandro Cammarano, Carlo Fiore, Gianluigi Mattietti, Carla Moreni and Roberta Pedrotti, and seven critics elected by the members of the ANCM: Attilio Cantore, Luca Della Libera, Susanna Franchi, Cesare Galla, Giancarlo Landini, Gregorio Moppi, and Alessandro Rigolli.

The citations for each award and details of the award ceremony are yet to be released.