The International Art Academy of Ischia has given tenor Luciano Pavarotti the Ischia Music Legend Award as the “greatest tenor of all times.”
The news was made known in an announcement by Tony Renis, vice-president of the Academy as well as its world ambassador. “In a particularly happy moment for our work,” says Tony Renis, “on the eve of the fifth Global Film & Music Fest, with the arrival in Ischia of musical superstars such as David Foster, Gustavo Santaolalla and Luis Bacalov, together with Sheryl Crow, Laura Pausini, Andrea Mingardi and many Hollywood stars, it is a joy to bow to the legend of Pavarotti, to whom the entire world of music must be grateful. Luciano is the greatest tenor of all times and his talent, his personal history, as well as his artistic generosity are the pride and heritage of our country,” concludes Renis.

The award will be presented on Tuesday, July 10 at the port of Ischia by mayor Giosi Ferrandino who together with Tony Renis and the superstars of the Global Fest, will welcome the tenor’s wife Nicoletta Mantovani, who will accept the award due to the Maestro’s health problems.

The festival is produced with the support of the Tourist Board of the Campania Region and the Italian Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Venice Casino, Kimbo coffee, and Fiuggi mineral water, with the participation of Cinecittà Holding and the Chamber of Commerce of Naples and Medmar.
The event is chaired by Oscar winner Paul Haggis, who will be assisted by vice-presidents Marina Cicogna and Franco Nero. Among the participants: directors Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Oliver Stone, Alfonso Cuaròn, Stephen Frears, Bobby Moresco, Terry Gilliam, Michael Radford, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, and Bille August. They will be joined by Italian directors Emanuele Crialese, Mimmo Calopresti, and Marco Risi and actors Hilary Swank, Ioan Gruffudd, Rodrigo Santoro, Laura Morante, Alessandra Martines, Adriano Giannini, Anna Valle, and Enrico Loverso. Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan will also be on hand, together with Brazilian colleagues Braulio Mantovani and Marcos Bernstein, and Italians Valerio Massimo Manfredi and Erri De Luca.