Stefania Bonfadelli Wins «Maria Zamboni d’Oro» Opera Award
Stefania Bonfadelli, a young soprano from Valeggio sul Mincio, has been awarded the «Maria Zamboni d’Oro» lyric prize, now in its sixth edition. Before the Veronese singer, the prestigious award—which takes place every August in Ponti sul Mincio and is organized by the municipal administration—has been granted to renowned figures of opera: Adriana Lazzarini, Katia Ricciarelli, Maria Guleghina, Alida Ferrarini, and Bruna Baglioni.
The evening and the competition
On the occasion of receiving her award, the soprano from Valeggio will perform tomorrow evening in the square of Ponti in a concert titled «Lirica sotto le stelle» (“Opera Under the Stars”), which will also feature tenor Filippo Micale and baritone Alessandro Kim. Accompanying them will be the San Biagio choir with Maestro Alberto Cavoli on piano. The evening’s sponsor will be the renowned singer Adriana Lazzarini. The event, conceived by Emilio Bulgarini, a great enthusiast of opera music from Peschiera del Garda, will be hosted by Michele Nocera, an international biographer of Maria Callas and Katia Ricciarelli.
Stefania Bonfadelli began studying piano at age eight and singing at 14, under the guidance of Lina Aimaro Bertasi, the unforgettable soprano from Sirmione who passed away two years ago. She launched her international career at the Wiener Staatsoper with «I Puritani», where, since 1997, she has been a regular guest performing works like «Lucia di Lammermoor», «Rigoletto», and «La Traviata». She has appeared at many European theaters and recently at the Royal Opera House in London. She performed at La Scala in Milan under the direction of Riccardo Muti.
Career and history of the award
Now launched on the path to great success, the singer from Valeggio was engaged by the Vienna State Opera until 2004. The «Zamboni» prize is dedicated to the memory of the great Ponti-born lyric singer who performed on stages worldwide under Arturo Toscanini in the 1920s and 1930s. She died in Peschiera del Garda in 1976 after an extraordinary artistic career.
