Ettore Pagano Takes Center Stage at Garda Lake Music Excellence in Desenzano

Cellist Ettore Pagano, fresh off a win at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, will perform tonight, 10 July, at the Garda Lake Music Excellence festival in Desenzano, at the Church of San Biagio. Pagano will lead a program focused on Mozart and Brahms alongside faculty from the Prestige Academy, including Roman Simovic, Diyang Mei, Luca Ranieri, Wen-Sinn Yang, Enxhi Nini, and Milena Simovic.

The festival runs through 25 July, with additional concerts and masterclass-led events across Sirmione and Desenzano. On 13 July, Luca Ranieri—artistic director—presents Mozart al Castello in the Courtyard of the Scaligero Castle with the Quartetto della Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano; on 17 July, I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, conducted by Roberta Peroni, plays at San Biagio, followed on 18 July by When La Scala incontra le Grotte di Catullo at the Grotte di Catullo with the Italian Harmonists and voices from Teatro alla Scala. Later dates include performances by harpists Luisa Prandina and Susanna Bertuccioli (21 July), a recital by Francesca Dego and Francesca Leonardi (22 July), Scompiglio a Sirmione by Musica da Ripostiglio (24 July), and the final concert on 25 July at the Desenzano Castle with I Pomeriggi Musicali conducted by Mimma Campanale and the best student from the Prestige Academy 2026.
Italian Version