Romanian Soprano Elena Moșuc Honored with Cigno del Garda Award in Verona

Romanian soprano Elena Moșuc has been honored with the prestigious Cigno del Garda Award 2026 in Verona, Italy. The award ceremony, held on Saturday, August 1st, celebrated her illustrious career and "legendary performances," recognizing her as "one of the greatest bel canto interpreters of contemporary times."

The distinction was presented during the International Lake Garda Festival, coinciding with the 44th edition of the Piccinni Prize for excellence in performing arts, which this year honored the renowned 96-year-old Italian director Pier Luigi Pizzi. The festival's website referred to Moșuc as one of Pizzi's "muses."

Moșuc's career in Italy spans 25 years, beginning with her debut under Pizzi's direction at the Rome Opera, where she performed the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." In 2001, she also made her first appearances at the Arena di Verona as Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto" and as Violetta in "La Traviata." These iconic roles, among many others, underscore the significance of the award received in Verona.

This is not the first international honor for Moșuc, whose extensive list of accolades includes the Europäischer Förderpreis für Musik (1993), Bellini d'Oro (1995), Zenatello (2002), Premio Verdi di Modena and Premio Verdi di Verona (2004), Siola d'Oro (2009), and the Oscar della Lirica for best soprano in the world in 2019. Her career has evolved from lyrical coloratura to lyrical-spinto and dramatico d'agilità roles, encompassing 33 opera roles and 28 vocal-symphonic works, with a particular mastery of romantic bel canto.