Pier Luigi Pizzi has been honored with the 2024 Premio Piero Cappuccilli.

The prestigious award was presented to the renowned director following the July 26 performance of “Tosca,” which featured Erika Grimaldi in the lead role.

The Fondazione Cappuccilli shared the announcement, stating, “Last night, during the fifth edition of the Piero Cappuccilli International Award ceremony at the Torre del Lago’s Puccini Festival, the esteemed director Pierluigi Pizzi was celebrated.”

In response, Pizzi remarked, “After the exhilarating experience of ‘Tosca’ at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, a delightful surprise awaited me! Patricia took the stage to present me with the award from the Foundation named after her father, the legendary baritone Piero Cappuccilli. What a thrill! It’s impossible to stay calm!”

Pizzi joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, including Ludovic Tézier in 2023, Plácido Domingo in 2022, and Luca Salsi in 2021.

Piero Cappuccilli was a celebrated Italian operatic baritone renowned for his powerful interpretations of Verdi’s roles. His illustrious career included performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Royal Opera, Teatro alla Scala, and Paris Opera, among other prestigious venues.