Paolo Conte awarded Premio Pascoli lifetime achievement award

The jury for the 21st edition of the Premio Pascoli has awarded the lifetime achievement award to singer-songwriter Paolo Conte. The award is promoted by the Sammauroindustria association, representing the business community of San Mauro Pascoli, the birthplace of the poet Giovanni Pascoli.

Conte was selected due to his international distinction in the arts and his long-standing admiration for Pascoli. The jury noted that Conte has previously expressed how the rhythm of Pascoli’s poetry influences his songwriting. His musical style is recognized for its elegant, unusual rhymes and a unique lexicon that incorporates dialect and rare linguistic forms.

The award ceremony follows a tradition of honoring international figures such as Mario Luzi, Yves Bonnefoy, and Pupi Avati. In addition to the lifetime achievement honor, the competition includes categories for published works in both standard Italian and local dialects.