Choral Review and Lamberto Pietropoli Prize

A prize for Italian amateur choral music

The Choral Review and Lamberto Pietropoli Prize is an event dedicated to amateur choral singing that annually brings together groups from all over Italy, and sometimes from abroad. For 2026, it has chosen Castelnovo ne' Monti, the capital of the Reggiano Apennines in the province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna, as its venue.

The prize is named after maestro Lamberto Pietropoli, a key figure in national amateur choral music, remembered for his contribution to transforming choral singing into a tool for aggregation, culture, and participation. Each year, the award is given to personalities or choirs that have distinguished themselves in the Italian choral scene for artistic quality, commitment, and musical outreach.

A travelling event

The review was conceived by Cynthia Forghieri, who was later joined by collaborators Sandro Arciello, Anna Boccia, and Giuliana Di Vincenzo. It is a travelling event: over the years, it has visited numerous Italian cities, offering participating choirs not only the opportunity to perform but also to discover the host territories. Its arrival in Castelnovo ne' Monti thus combines the great choral tradition with the discovery of the Apennines and its products, from Parmigiano Reggiano dairies to the majestic Pietra di Bismantova, a symbol of the Reggiano mountain.

Choirs from all over the peninsula

The Castelnovo edition brought together eight guest groups – from Veneto to Lazio, from Valle d'Aosta to Lombardy – alongside the two local choirs, the Coro Bismantova and the women's choir Lunae Cantores from Castelnovo ne' Monti. Through invited concerts, collective performances, and a final concert open to all, the review alternates musical moments with convivial ones, in the spirit of fellowship that characterizes amateur choral music.

Castelnovo ne' Monti and the Pietra di Bismantova

The administrative and cultural heart of the Reggiano Apennines, Castelnovo ne' Monti is dominated by the Pietra di Bismantova, the spectacular rocky outcrop also mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy. Hosting a national choral event at its feet strengthens the link between music and landscape, in a setting that makes the territory one of the protagonists of the event.