De Labyrintho Awarded the Prestigious 2026 “Franco Abbiati” Prize for Best Ensemble

NovAntiqua is proud to announce that De Labyrintho, directed by Walter Testolin, has been honored with the 2026 "Franco Abbiati" Italian Music Critics’ Award as Best Ensemble.

Established in 1981, the “Franco Abbiati” Prize is the most authoritative recognition in the Italian classical music landscape. The award is granted by the National Association of Music Critics (ANCM) to the most outstanding protagonists of the concert and operatic seasons. The prize carries immense weight due to the rigorous and independent selection process of its jury. Over the decades, the "Abbiati" has featured musicians such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Maurizio Pollini, and Zubin Mehta in its Roll of Honour. For an ensemble to be included in this prestigious lineage is a testament to extraordinary artistic merit and cultural contribution.

​The 2026 jury — meeting in Milan on March 10 — recognized the ensemble’s exceptional work throughout the 2025 season, a year that saw De Labyrintho continue its meticulous exploration of sound, symbol, and spiritual depth.

Founded in 2001 by Walter Testolin, De Labyrintho focuses its research on 15th and 16th-century repertoire. The ensemble is particularly renowned for its profound dedication to the works of Josquin Desprez, often described as the most expert group in the world at extracting the "sublime and poignantly humanist" essence of his music.

NovAntiqua expresses its deepest pride in this achievement, which reinforces our ongoing commitment to high-caliber musical research. This award arrives during a significant three-album recording project dedicated to Josquin Desprez. The first chapter of this collaboration, "Sublime Ingegno," was released in 2025 to critical acclaim. Featuring the Missa L'homme armé and several motets, the album captures a performance of "overwhelming beauty" directed by Walter Testolin.

We look forward to continuing this award-winning journey with the upcoming releases in this series.