Guido Cantelli
«A truly talented young man with that indescribable and genuine quality that brings an artist the greatest success» (Arturo Toscanini)
The award dedicated to Guido Cantelli by his city is intended as an invitation to the younger generation to make their dreams come true by following the example of a maestro who transcended his limits to follow his vocation and talent through study, tenacity, perseverance and determination.
After the difficult war years, from the age of 25 Guido Cantelli travelled the world, met great artists and conducted the most important orchestras.
He thus created a space to make his dreams come true.
His story is the greatest legacy he left to young people.
GUIDO CANTELLI
Guido Cantelli was a podium meteor, who shone a light on the world’s most important concert halls and theatres with his smile, professionalism and genius qualities for just over ten years.
Born in Novara on 27 April 1920, he made his debut at the Coccia Theatre in his hometown in 1943: and it was in the same theatre, on 17 November 1956, that he conducted his last concert, with the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala of which he had been appointed permanent conductor the previous day. A week later, on 23 November, the plane that should have taken him to New York once again, crashed to the ground immediately after take-off from Paris’s Orly Airport. Acknowledged by Arturo Toscanini as his most authentic heir, Cantelli represented for Italy the link between the late Romantic school of conducting and a modern conductor, whose repertoire also ranged from early music to contemporary.
THE HISTORY OF THE AWARD
The International Conducting Competition “Guido Cantelli” was established in 1961 to honor the memory of Guido Cantelli.
Founded by the Provincial Tourism Board of Novara, the competition—dedicated to young orchestra conductors—quickly became an international benchmark, awarding young batons who later achieved worldwide fame, such as Riccardo Muti, Eliahu Inbal, Ádám Fischer, Hubert Soudant, and Donato Renzetti.
After a 40-year hiatus, thanks to the efforts of the director of the Teatro Coccia, Corinne Baroni, the Cantelli Prize resumed its journey in 2020 with three editions (2020 jury president Donato Renzetti; 2022 jury president Sebastian F. Schwarz; 2024 jury president Günter Neuhold), reaffirming its legacy and presenting among its selected candidates a number of talents now enjoying rapidly rising careers, such as Tianyi Lu (winner, 11th edition), Min Gyu Song (winner, 13th edition), Bertie Baigent, Diego Ceretta, Dmitry Matvienko, Cristian Spătaru, and Toby Thatcher.
WINNERS OF PAST EDITIONS
14TH EDITION - CANTELLI AWARD 2026
If you are a young conductor aged 18 to 35, register for the Cantelli Award and complete the registration procedure by 11.59 p.m. on Thursday 30 April 2026.
GALLERY
