(Credit: Speranza Scappucci official website)

The Musical Director of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège Speranza Scappucci has received the first edition of the De Sanctis Europa Prize, at the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Brussels.

The De Sanctis Prize is an important Italian distinction, conferred by the De Sanctis Foundation in collaboration with the Council of Ministers and the support of the President of the Republic of Italy. In 2021, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the De Sanctis Prize, a new Prize called De Sanctis Europa Prize has been established. The prize will be awarded each year to European personalities who excel in the fields of art, science or humanistic ideas.

Scappucci is one of the leading European conductors. She has led orchestras at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, Semperoper Dresden, Wiener Staatsoper, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Opernhaus Zürich, LA Opera, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera di Roma, and Théatre des Champs Élysées, among others.

Scappucci is slated to conduct Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in February and March 2022, before appearances at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden for two concert performances of Verdi’s “Attila” in July 2022.

Scappucci is also scheduled to lead Filarmonica della Scala for three concerts featuring music by Schubert, Mozart, and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in May 2022.