Regensburg, Theater, February 23

Manuel Brug, renowned German music critic and journalist and member of the jury, stated:

An Italian conductor who, alongside organ, composition, and conducting, also studied philosophy in Freiburg

that is already quite a rarity.

For several years now, he has been surprising the classical music world

both as the director of the vocal ensemble Il Canto di Orfeo, which he founded,

and as chief conductor of Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco, with outstanding historically informed performances.

In 2025, he convincingly conducted Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold for the first time at the Monte Carlo Opera House.

Authentic orchestral sound, clarity of text, and a keen sense for the vocal line characterize his work.

Only a few weeks later, at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, another sensation followed with Hotel Metamorphosis,

an opera pasticcio by director Barrie Kosky based on compositions by Antonio Vivaldi,

which our Conductor of the Year curated under his artistic leadership.

Watch to the full awards ceremony here 

Gianluca Capuano (conductor)

For a full English bio click here

For audio/video clips click here