{
    "title": "Italian cellist Ettore Pagano wins 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-31 09:17:42",
    "published_at": "2026-05-31 09:17:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/italian-cellist-ettore-pagano-wins-2026-queen-elisabeth-competition",
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    "culture": "en_BE",
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    "slug": "italian-cellist-ettore-pagano-wins-2026-queen-elisabeth-competition",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Italian cellist Ettore Pagano has won the third edition of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello, securing one of the most prestigious prizes in the classical music world after a month-long competition that brought together some of the finest young musicians from across the globe.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The 23-year-old musician, who studied in Rome and is currently continuing his training in Berlin, was announced as the winner on Sunday evening following the final performances at Brussels&#039; Bozar. South Korean cellist Tae-Yeon Kim (20) claimed second prize, while Canadian-American competitor Leland Ko (28) completed the podium in third place.</p><div id=\"bookmark-adeebc15-c80b-42c2-b19a-06701b9fbd23\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/75th-anniversary-queen-elisabeth-competition-reaches-finale-as-cello-winners-set-to-be-announced\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F198956f3-abb4-48f5-a5fa-a2b6ca34f3a8%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=407786fe495e79c47f6d236f365d1cf7)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/75th-anniversary-queen-elisabeth-competition-reaches-finale-as-cello-winners-set-to-be-announced\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"adeebc15-c80b-42c2-b19a-06701b9fbd23\"\n           >\n                75th anniversary Queen Elisabeth Competition reaches finale as cello winners set to be announced            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                The winners of the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello will be announced on Saturday evening, bringing to a close a week of finals at Bozar...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2F75th-anniversary-queen-elisabeth-competition-reaches-finale-as-cello-winners-set-to-be-announced&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Pagano impressed both jury and audience with his performance of Sergei Prokofiev&#039;s demanding Symphonia Concertante during the final round, earning a standing ovation in the packed concert hall.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The first prize comes with 25,000 euros and a series of concert engagements, but this year&#039;s winner will also receive a unique distinction. As part of the Queen Elisabeth Competition&#039;s 75th anniversary celebrations, Pagano will be granted the exceptional privilege of playing the historic cello of Pablo Casals for the next four years.</p><div id=\"video-46aa1ae7-5742-47f6-8bdd-c80eb8088bba\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqUirGyFXevY%23_cb1780214826&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" data-img style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><p style=\"text-align: left\">Built around 1710 by renowned Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller, the instrument accompanied Casals throughout much of his legendary career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cellists of the twentieth century, the Catalan musician played the cello for some 65 years. The instrument was displayed throughout the final week of the competition at Bozar and will be formally handed over to Pagano next week.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The special loan is intended as a tribute to both Casals and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, who were born 150 years ago and shared a close friendship rooted in their passion for music.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The remaining laureates were Spain&#039;s &Aacute;lvaro Lozano Cames (20) in fourth place, Japan&#039;s Yo Kitamura (22) in fifth and Russia&#039;s Maria Zaitseva (24) in sixth. Tae-Yeon Kim also received the Klara Audience Award.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><sup>Winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello, Ettore Pagano from Italy pictured after the final at the Brussels&#039; Bozar concert hall, Saturday 30 May 2026. &copy;BELGA PHOTO EMILE WINDAL</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-81e80f7c-529c-4e3a-9ac5-f500914296d2\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/twelve-cellists-compete-in-queen-elisabeth-competition-finals\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F4733c9c2-5cc3-4dae-9cc9-8ddd8763b162%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=75f7346fdaf134fcc8ac4a45ddf98e4f)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/twelve-cellists-compete-in-queen-elisabeth-competition-finals\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"81e80f7c-529c-4e3a-9ac5-f500914296d2\"\n           >\n                Twelve cellists compete in Queen Elisabeth Competition finals            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                The final rounds of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello open on Monday at Bozar in Brussels, running until Saturday 30 May. Two finalists...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Ftwelve-cellists-compete-in-queen-elisabeth-competition-finals&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"bookmark-04f9c0f5-723a-4750-ba36-b845faa6364d\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/cellists-step-into-the-spotlight-as-the-queen-elisabeth-competition-commences\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F8387a8eb-3937-463a-89b7-230c6fed20ba%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=b0bf5657b975a349d68b3af53590fc48)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/cellists-step-into-the-spotlight-as-the-queen-elisabeth-competition-commences\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"04f9c0f5-723a-4750-ba36-b845faa6364d\"\n           >\n                Cellists step into spotlight as Queen Elisabeth Competition commences            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                The Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello begins on Monday, with the first rounds taking place at Flagey in Brussels from 4-9 May. The prestigious...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fcellists-step-into-the-spotlight-as-the-queen-elisabeth-competition-commences&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
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            "caption": "Prokofiev Symphony-concerto op. 125 | Ettore Pagano - Queen Elisabeth Competition 2026",
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        {
            "description": "75th anniversary Queen Elisabeth Competition reaches finale as cello winners set to be announced",
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            "description": "Twelve cellists compete in Queen Elisabeth Competition finals",
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