(Credit: Olga Rubio Dalmau)

Anna Netrebko has been named the 56th Premio Puccini recipient.

The Puccini festival announced that on Dec. 20, the soprano will receive the award in Torre del Lago.

In a statement, the organization said, “The most famous soprano in the world Anna Netrebko, “unique voice in the world” will be in Torre del Lago on Friday 20 December to receive the Puccini prize, the highest recognition of the City of Viareggio and Fondazione Festival Pucciniano awarded every year to performers, artists, and personalities of the world of opera, who have distinguished themselves for their interpretation, promotion or contribution to the work of Giacomo Puccini and to opera culture in general.”

Netrebko has performed Puccini around the world as Turandot, Mimì, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, and Musetta and has sung 28 productions in 15 different theatres/festivals in eight countries on four continents.

Of Puccini, Netrebko said, “he wrote extraordinary scores for soprano.”

The ceremony will be held at the Auditorium Enrico Caruso and will showcase Alberto Mattioli as well as Domenico Pierini and Silvia Gasperini.

Netrebko joins past winners Gianadrea Noseda, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Pirozzi, Angela Gheorghiu, Vittorio Grigolo, Barbara Frittoli, Maria Guleghina, José Carreras, Maria Callas and Mirella Freni, among others.