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The Circolo Pavia Lirica was founded in 1967, as a spontaneous group, called "Amici del Canto e della Musica".
Every Sunday afternoon, a group of friends meets to converse and exchange opinions on their common passion: music and singing. Many of them are singers who, accompanied on the piano, perform, delighting those present with opera arias and romances. The habit is strengthened, singing becomes the driving force, and everything becomes a custom that leads to the foundation of a real Circolo.
In 1973, the need for a new, larger and more welcoming environment leads to the transfer of the activity to the new headquarters in the city's Lungoticino.
The association takes on the new name of "Circolo Pavia Lirica".
The activity leads Pavia Lirica to be one of the most active and well-known clubs, with a notable presence of singers of all levels, who then became friends of the Club, who have linked their name to the association and have given their contribution to its growth, also participating in the concerts organized by the Club itself. At the end of 2024, the Club has a total of 70 Members.
On the stage of the concert hall, during the Sunday musical afternoons, several young Italian and foreign singers perform. For them, these are the first approaches with the public that encourages them and understands their difficulties, but which allow them to gain experience and overcome that fear typical of those who perform in front of an audience of enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
The idea arises to study an initiative that favors these young people, something that helps them to face the difficult path they have undertaken, that encourages them to continue studying to improve their artistic level.
Thus was born the International Singing Competition "Voci Nuove per la Lirica", which aims to discover young talents.
The Competitions follow one another and become increasingly important, thanks to the commitment of the organizing Members and the competence and impartiality demonstrated by the Juries that have followed one another in the various editions.
Since 1999 the Competition has taken the name of "Gaetano Fraschini".
As is well known, Gaetano Fraschini was a great opera singer from Pavia, defined as "Verdi's Tenor", as the great Maestro appreciated him for his artistic and vocal qualities.
The first edition of the Competition dates back to 1976.
In the history of the Competition there have been competitors from all over the world, in addition, of course, to Italy.
It can boast the presence of young singers, both winners and those who reached the final stage, who have then become famous at a national and international level. It has paved the way to success for many other singers who have participated and who have reached levels of celebrity in the world of opera, such as the Soprano Denia Mazzola, the Bass Serghei Martinov, the Tenors Fabio Armiliato, Marcelo Alvarez, Salvatore Licitra, and the Pavia Baritone Ambrogio Maestri.
In recent years, the Circolo Pavia Lirica has established an award, the Targa "Il Sipario d'Argento", which is awarded to important figures in opera, as well as to Maestre and Maestri di Canto, friends and frequenters of the Circolo. To date, this award has been awarded, in chronological order, to the singers Milena Dal Piva, Lorenzo Saccomani, Umberto Grilli, Igino Valsecchi, Nicola Martinucci, Rita Orlandi Malaspina, Fabio Armiliato, Ambrogio Maestri, Gianfranca Ostini, Maestro Riccardo Muti, Maestro Bruno Casoni, soprano Fiorenza Cedolins, baritone Silvio Zanon, baritone Leo Nucci, mezzo-soprano Franca Mattiucci, soprano Luciana Serra, baritone Alberto Mastromarino, tenor Angelo Loforese, mezzo-soprano Annamaria Chiuri, soprano Raina Kabaiwaska, bass Carlo Colombara, soprano Chiara Taigi and soprano Selene Zanetti.
In 2007, the Circolo Pavia Lirica celebrated its 40th anniversary with an important event that saw the awarding of prizes to the association's historic members, professional and amateur singers who are friends of the Circolo, and the participation of important figures from the world of opera. In 2017, the 50th anniversary of its foundation was celebrated with an important concert at the Belgioioso Castle, starring the soprano Chiara Taigi and maestro Enrico Zucca on the piano.
Pavia Lirica is now a consolidated Circolo, which can boast considerable activity in the lyrical field, which has made the city of Pavia a point of reference for professionals and enthusiasts of this musical genre, and which constitutes one of the liveliest and most active associations in Italy.
In 2014, a collaboration began with the Teatro Carbonetti in Broni, where Traviata, Trovatore, Cavalleria Rusticana, Tosca, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Boheme, Aida and other events were performed.
In 2017, a collaboration began with the Fondazione Teatro Fraschini in Pavia.
For members and guests who wish to get to know us, the following events are held at the social headquarters:

Twice a month, from September to June, concerts with performances by opera singers (professionals in career, glories of the recent past, students of well-known masters, amateurs), with accompanying pianist; concerts scheduled on Friday or Saturday evenings.

For the pleasure of opera lovers:
opera selections and concerts, held in prestigious venues in the city (Sala del Rivellino, Castello Visconteo, Teatro Opera Salesiana, Collegio Borromeo, Cortile delle Magnolie dell'Università di Pavia etc.), open to the paying public, with discounts, priority in bookings and price reductions for Members.

These activities are mainly supported by the annual fees subscribed by Members as well as by the comforting friendship of famous protagonists of opera.

From 5 to 9 November 2025 the 24th International Singing Competition Voci nuove per la Lirica "Gaetano Fraschini" will take place with the finale at the prestigious Theater.