Ezio Frigerio (b. Erba, Milan, 1930) is an Italian costume designer and art director.

After finishing architecture studies, he approached theatre art by realising the costumes for Casa di Bambola and L'opera da 3 soldi, two plays directed by Giorgio Strehler at Piccolo Teatro in the 1955-56 theatre season. From then on a fertile artistic marriage started between art director and producer, setting up several unique productions as I giganti della montagna (1966), Santa Giovanna dei macelli (1970), Re Lear (1972), Il temporale (1980), L'Illusion Comique, which premiered in 1984 at Théatre de l'Odéon in Paris, La grande magia, which premiered in 1985 and was reprised several times.

The collaboration with Strehler made Frigerio enter the world of opera: Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte were realized by Strehler and Frigerio between 1973 and 1996. Così fan tutte was being staged just before Strehler died.

Frigerio also created stage designs for the Burgtheater in Vienna: Trilogie der Sommerfrische (Trilogia della villeggiatura) by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Strehler, 1974; Judith by Hebbel, directed by Gerhard Klingenberg, 1975.

Other operatic stage designs include: Cherubini's Medea, directed by Liliana Cavani, for the Opéra National de Paris; Strauss' Elektra, directed by Nuria Espert, for De Munt Theatre in Brussels; Verdi's Ernani, directed by Luca Ronconi, 1980, Beethoven's Fidelio, directed by Werner Herzog in 1999 for the Teatro alla Scala in Milan; Bellini's Norma, directed by Piero Faggioni, for the Vienna State Opera in 1977; Verdi's Rigoletto, for the Polish National Opera in 1997.

Frigerio also created the sets for Liliana Cavani's movie Galileo e i Cannibali and Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Cyrano de Bergerac, which got an Oscar nomination in 1991.^[1]

Frigerio often collaborates with Italian costume designer Franca Squarciapino who is also Frigerio's partner in life.

Frigerio designed the grave of Rudolf Nureyev. *[1]

References[link]

Notes[link]

• Henderson, Marina (1992), 'Frigerio, Ezio' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
• IMDB page, accessed 25 January 2010
• Zurich Opera biography (German), accessed 25 January 2010

Franca Squarciapino is an Italian costume designer who won the Academy Award for Costume Design in 1990 for Cyrano de Bergerac. She has spent much of her career designing costumes for major theatres and opera houses, including the Burgtheater in Vienna, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and Zurich Opera among others.

She frequently collaborates with Ezio Frigerio, who is also her partner in life.

External links[link]

• Franca Squarciapino at the Internet Movie Database

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Vittorio Grigolo (b. February 19, 1977, Arezzo, Italy) is an Italian singer.

Grigolo was born in Arezzo, but raised in Rome. He began singing by the age of four. When he was nine years old he accompanied his mother to have her eyes tested and, hearing someone singing from another room, he spontaneously began his own rendition of "Ave Maria." The singer, the optician's father, was so impressed that he insisted Grigolo have an audition for the Sistine Chapel Choir as soon as possible. Young Vittorio was chosen to become part of Sistine Chapel Choir as a soloist. He then studied for five years at the Schola Puerorum at the Sistine Chapel.

Opera and musicals performances[link]

At age 13 he played the Pastorello in a performance of Tosca at Rome's opera house, where he shared the stage with Pavarotti; becoming known as 'Il Pavarottino'.^{[citation needed]} When 18, Vittorio joined the Vienna Opera Company. He became the youngest man to perform in Milan's La Scala at age 23.^{[citation needed]} He is the first Italian male to be excused compulsory military service on account of his promising career.^{[citation needed]} He also raced Pre-3000 Formula cars for a while until an accident limited his opportunities in this field.^{[citation needed]}

Grigolo sang in performances of The Barber of Seville, La traviata, Così fan tutte, Faust, and many others before taking the role of Tony in West Side Story alongside James Gandolfini.^{[citation needed]}

First albums[link]

In 2006, Grigolo recorded a solo album, In the Hands of Love, in the pop/opera genre he calls "Popera". The album debuted in the Top Ten of the U.K. pop charts, entering at number 6.^{[citation needed]} The album contains renditions of Keane's "Bedshaped", "Maria" from West Side Story, Stevie Wonder's "All in Love Is Fair", and a duet with Katherine Jenkins titled "You Are My Miracle". The US version of the album was titled simply Vittorio. The US version of the duet "You Are My Miracle" features Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

In 2007, Grigolo and Hayley Westenra, as Tony and Maria, recorded West Side Story in conjunction with the Leonard Bernstein Foundation, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the musical. West Side Story entered the UK Classic FM Chart at number 1.^[1]

Grigolo released his second studio album, "The Italian Tenor", in 2010. It was rated by David Mellor as among the best opera recordings of 2010 in Classic FM.^[2]

Awards and nominations[link]

Awards[link]

The European Commission of the EU granted Grigolo and Romano Musumarra a European Border Breakers Award, along with the record company, authors and publishers, for recording the highest sales for a debut album in 2006 within the European Union, but outside of its country of production.

The Capri/Hollywood Film Festival granted Grigolo a Capri Exploit Music Award. The award ceremony took place on January 1, 2008, on the island of Capri, where Grigolo also performed a tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

Nominations[link]

• Grammy Award 2008 Best Musical Show Album - West Side Story

Live appearances[link]

• In April 2006 Grigolo made his debut with a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he returned to the RAH to appear alongside such singers as Plácido Domingo and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, at the 'Classical Brit Awards' evening, performing arias taken from his repertoire.

• In July 2006 Grigolo performed "Bedshaped" at the Miss Universe 2006 evening gown competition in the Los Angeles, USA.

• In September 2006 Grigolo appeared alongside Lionel Richie at 'Proms in the Park' London, England.

• In September 2006 Grigolo performed at the Macy's Passport fashion and charity events in the US, where he was the only musical entertainment, performing in front of a combined audience of 10,000.

• Also in September 2006 Grigolo appeared on the US television series Dancing with the Stars.

• Vittorio will start a promotional tour of Australia in October 2006.

• On October 16, 2006, Grigolo appeared in ABC's reality TV series The Bachelor.

• On November 14, 2006, Grigolo appeared on Dancing with the Stars in Australia.

• October 2007 Grigolo performed "Nessun Dorma" at the NIAF 32nd Gala Dinner, Washington, D.C., in tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.

• Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Grigolo is appearing as Dr. Faust in Gounod's Faust. September 18 2011. [Grigolo had an accident and was knocked out during the final act in the final dress rehearsal.]

Discography[link]

• In the Hands of Love (2006)
• West Side Story (2007)
• The Italian Tenor (2010)

DVD[link]

Recorded at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy. A live performance of tracks from his album, as well as a few additional pieces. The DVD was recorded specifically for the Great Performances series on PBS TV USA.

Grigolo plays Cassio in Giuseppe Verdi Otello recorded at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona 2006

Latest opera/classical appearances[link]

• 'Camillo de Rossillon' in La vedova allegra at Roma Opera House, Rome December 2007
• 'Rodolfo' in La bohème at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C. September 2007 and at Zurich Opera House, Oct/Nov 2009.
• Stabat Mater by Rossini at Sydney Opera House Australia, May 2007
• 'Alfredo' in La traviata at Roma Opera Theatre April 2007, at Théâtre Antique d'Orange, Les Chorégies d'Orange, 11 & 15 July 2009, at La Fenice Sept 2009, Deutsche Oper Berlin Sept 2009/March 2010
• 'Cassio' in Otello at the Liceu, Barcelona Feb 2006.
• 'Il Duca de Mantova' in Rigoletto at Hamburg State Opera, Sept/Oct 2005.
• 'Don Carlos' in Don Carlos at Geneva Opera House, June 2008.
• 'Edgardo' in Lucia di Lammermoor at Zurich Opera House, Sept 2008.
• Rigoletto, live from Mantua, 2010 RAI film version of Rigoletto, performed live on location in Mantua, Italy and broadcast simultaneously in 148 countries.
• 'Rodolfo' in La bohème at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, October 2010. It was his debut with the company.
• 'Corrado' in Il corsaro at Zurich Opera House, Nov 2009/Jan 2010.
• 'Hoffmann' in Les contes d'Hoffmann at Zurich Opera House, March/April 2010.

Repertory[link]

• Verdi: Messa da Requiem/Falstaff/Rigoletto/La traviata/Il corsaro
• Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore/Don Sebastiano/Don Pasquale/Favorita/La fille du régiment/Lucia di Lammermoor
• Bellini: I Puritani/I Capuleti e i Montecchi
• Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini (Malatestino)
• Puccini: La Rondine/La bohème/Gianni Schicchi
• Gounod: Faust
• Rossini: Petite Messe Solemnelle/Stabat Mater
• Mozart: Requiem/Don Giovanni/Idomeneo/Così fan tutte
• Cilea: L’Arlesiana
• Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
• Massenet: Werther
• Mascagni: Amico Fritz
• Léo Delibes: Lakmé
• Bernstein: Candide/West Side Story
• Franz Lehár: it. La Vedova Allegra aka (The Merry Widow / Die lustige Witwe)
• Jacques Offenbach: Les contes d'Hoffmann

References[link]

External links[link]

Joyce DiDonato (born February 13, 1969) is an award-winning American operatic mezzo-soprano particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Handel, Mozart, and Rossini. DiDonato has performed with many of the world's leading opera companies and orchestras. In 2012 she won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo.

Early life and education[link]

Joyce DiDonato was born Joyce Flaherty in Prairie Village, Kansas in 1969, the sixth of seven children in a close-knit Irish-American family. She sang in choir and musicals in high school and dreamed of becoming a Broadway star or pop singer.^[1] DiDonato entered Wichita State University (WSU) in the autumn of 1988 where she studied vocal music education. She was initially more interested in teaching high school vocal music and musical theatre and did not become interested in opera until her junior year, when she was cast in a school production of Die Fledermaus.^[2] After graduating from WSU in the spring of 1992, DiDonato decided to pursue graduate studies in vocal performance at the Academy of Vocal Arts.^[3] Following her studies in Philadelphia, she was accepted in Santa Fe Opera's young artist program in 1995. While there she appeared in several minor roles and understudied for larger parts in such operas as Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Richard Strauss' Salome, Kálmán's Gräfin Mariza and the 1994 world premiere of David Lang's Modern Painters. DiDonato was honored as the Outstanding Apprentice Artist by the Santa Fe Opera that year. In 1996 she became a part of Houston Grand Opera's young artist program where she sang from the autumn of 1996 to the spring of 1998. During the summer of 1997, DiDonato participated in San Francisco Opera's Merola Program.^[4]

During her apprentice years, DiDonato competed in several notable vocal competitions. In 1996 she won second prize in the Eleanor McCollum Competition and was a district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 1997 she won a William Matheus Sullivan Award. In 1998 she won second prize in the Operalia Competition, first place in the Stewart Awards, won the George London Competition, and a received a Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation.^[5]

Career[link]

DiDonato began her professional career in the 1998/1999 season singing with several regional opera companies in the United States. She most notably appeared as the main heroine, Maslova, in the world premiere of Tod Machover's Resurrection with the Houston Grand Opera.^[6] She gave a recital in San Francisco that year as part of the Schwabacher recital series.

In the 1999/2000 season, DiDonato performed the role of Meg in the world premiere of Mark Adamo's Little Women at Houston Grand Opera with Stephanie Novacek as Jo and Chad Shelton as Laurie. She performed the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with Santa Fe Opera and the role of Isabella in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri with the New Israeli Opera. In addition, DiDonato gave a recital at New York's Morgan Library under the auspices of the George London Foundation and sang the mezzo-soprano solos in the Seattle Symphony's production of Handel's Messiah.^[7]

In the 2000/2001 season, DiDonato made her debut at La Scala as Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola, returned to Houston Grand Opera as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte, and sang the mezzo-soprano solos in Bach's Mass in B minor with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and conductor John Nelson.^[7] In 2000, DiDonato received the ARIA (Awards Recognizing Individual Artistry) award, which annually recognized American "vocal artists of exceptional ability and undeniable promise".^[5]

In the 2001/2002 season DiDonato made her debut with Washington National Opera as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte, her debut with De Nederlandse Opera as Sesto in Handel's Giulio Cesare, her debut with Opéra National de Paris as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, her debut with Bavarian State Opera as Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and returned to Santa Fe Opera to perform the role of Annio in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito. She made several concert appearances including performances of Vivaldi's Gloria with Riccardo Muti and the La Scala Orchestra and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream with Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. In 2002, DiDonato was given the Richard Tucker Award.^[5]

In the 2002/2003 season, DiDonato made her debut with the New York City Opera as Sister Helen in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking, her debut with Théâtre du Châtelet in the title role of Rossini's La cenerentola, her debut at Covent Garden as Zlatohrbitek the fox in Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and her debut with the New National Theatre Tokyo as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia. She performed the title role in Rossini's Adina at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with Opéra Bastille. In concert, DiDonato performed Mozart's Requiem with the Seattle Symphony, Berlioz's Les nuits d'été with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in a production of Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the baton of Peter Schreier. She toured Europe with Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre in performances of Les nuits d'été.^[8] In 2003 DiDonato was the recipient of New York City Opera's Richard Gold Debut Award

In the 2003/2004 season, DiDonato made her debut with the San Francisco Opera as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and reprised the role with Houston Grand Opera. She performed Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo with De Nederlandse Opera and at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. She sang the role of Ascanio in a concert performance of Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini with the Orchestre National de France and appeared in solo recitals at the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Kansas City's Folly Theater, and Wigmore Hall among others. She sang at the Hollywood Bowl in a production of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.^[8]

In the 2004/2005 season, DiDonato made her debut with the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Elisabetta in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda. She returned to La Scala in the role of Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola and once again played Rosina in a new production of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia by Luca Ronconi at the Pesaro Festival and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.^[7]

In the 2005/2006 season, DiDonato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and played Stéphano in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette at the Met. She returned to the Royal Opera House as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, sang her first Sesto in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito with Grand Théâtre de Genève, and sang the role of Dejanira in Handel's Hercules at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and at the Barbican Centre in London with William Christie (musician). In addition, DiDonato appeared in several concerts with the New York Philharmonic and gave a recital at Wigmore Hall in London. She closed the Santa Fe Opera's 50th anniversary season in the title role of Massenet's Cendrillon.^[7] In 2006, DiDonato was given the Royal Philharmonic Society Singer Award.

In the 2006/2007 season, DiDonato debuted at the Teatro Real as the Composer in Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, returned to the Opéra National de Paris as Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo, and returned to Houston Grand Opera as Angelina in La Cenerentola. She sang Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Metropolitan Opera and sang her first Octavian in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier with the San Francisco Opera. She toured the U.S. and Europe on an extensive recital tour with accompianist Julius Drake.^[9] DiDonato won the Metropolitan Opera's Beverly Sills Award in 2007.^[10]

In the 2007/2008 season, DiDonato debuted at the Liceu as Angelina in La Cenerentola and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. She sang the title role in Handel's Alcina with Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco and the title role in Handel's Ariodante at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. She sang Roméo in Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Opéra Bastille and returned to Madrid's Teatro Real as Idamante in Idomeneo in July 2008. DiDonato also gave recitals at La Scala, Lincoln Center, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and performed a special concert of Handel arias which was recorded in Brussels.^[9][11]

In the 2008/2009 season, DiDonato returned to Covent Garden as Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni and as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. In a performance of that opera on July 7, DiDonato slipped onstage and broke her right fibula; she finished the first act hobbling and the rest of the performance on crutches. She then performed the five remaining scheduled performances from a wheelchair.^[12] She will be performing the roles of Beatrice in Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict with Houston Grand Opera, Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo with Opéra National de Paris, and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia in her debut with Vienna State Opera. DiDonato also appeared in concerts with the New York Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the latter of which under the baton of James Levine. She also toured Europe and the United States with Les Talens Lyriques giving concerts of Handel arias; including performances at Wigmore Hall and the Rossini Opera Festival.^[13]

In October 2010, DiDonato won the Klassik Echo Award as Singer of the Year.^[14]

DiDonato sang the role of Isolier in Rossini's Le comte Ory with the Metropolitan Opera in April 2011.

At the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12th, 2012, the Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Solo was awarded to DiDonato for her solo recording Diva Divo.^[15]

In 2012, DiDonato was voted into Gramophone Magazine's Hall of Fame.^[16]

In April 2012, DiDonato sang the role of Mary Stuart in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda with the Houston Grand Opera.^[17]

Personal life[link]

DiDonato is married to Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni with whom she lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She was married once previously and continues to use her first husband's surname professionally.^[3]

Opera roles[link]

@ Indicates a world premiere

Discography[link]

Complete opera recordings[link]

• Alcina in Handel's Alcina with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2009, Archiv label.
• Angelina (Cenerentola) in Rossini's La Cenerentola with conductor Alberto Zedda and SWR Orchestra Kaiserslautern, released 2005, Naxos label.
• Ariodante in Handel's Ariodante with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2011, Virgin Classics label.
• Ascanio in Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini with conductor John Nelson and Orchestre National de France, released 2005, Virgin Classics label.
• Elmira in Handel's Floridante with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2007, Archiv Produktion label.
• Grace Kelly in Michael Daugherty's Jackie O with conductor Christopher Larkin and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 1997, Argo label.
• Maslova in Tod Machover's Resurrection with conductor Patrick Summers and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 1999, Albany Records.
• Meg March in Mark Adamo's Little Women with conductor Katherine Ciesinski and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 2001, Ondine label.
• Radamisto in Handel's Radamisto with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2005, Virgin Classics label.

Concert recordings[link]

• Antonio Vivaldi: The Complete Sacred Music with conductor Robert King and The King's Consort, released 2005, Hyperion label.
• Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Nights Dream with conductor John Nelson and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, released 2003, EMI Classics label.
• Mozart: The Last Concerto 1791 with conductor Frans Brüggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, released 2002, Glossa label.

Solo recordings[link]

• Diva, Divo, with the Orchestre et Choeur de l’Opéra National de Lyon under Kazushi Ono, released 2011
• Rossini: Colbran, the Muse, conductor Edoardo Muller and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, released 2009, Virgin Classics label.
• Furore – Mad Scenes from Operas, conductor Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques, released 2008, Virgin Classics label.
• Amor e gelosia: Handel Operatic Duets with Patrizia Ciofi, conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2004, Virgin Classics label.
• The Deepest Desire, accompanied by David Zobel, released 2006, Eloquentia label.
• Joyce DiDonato: Songs by Fauré, Hahn and Head · Arias by Rossini and Handel, live recording at Wigmore Hall, accompanied by Julius Drake, released 2006, Wigmore Hall Live label.
• ¡Pasión!, accompanied by Julius Drake, released 2007, Eloquentia label.

Other recordings[link]

• William Barnewitz: Long Road Home, DiDonato appears as a guest artist, released 2007, Avie label.
• Plácido Domingo's Operalia '98: A Tribute to Passion and Soul, released 1998, Montblanc label.

Film and television appearances[link]

• Meg March in Mark Adamo's Little Women with conductor Katherine Ciesinski and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, aired on PBS' Great Performances in 2001.
• Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville with conductor Bruno Campanella and Opéra National de Paris, aired on television in 2002, released on DVD 2002.
• "Gala Jean-Philippe Rameau" – Concert du 20ème anniversaire des Musiciens du Louvre, aired on television in 2003.
• Dejanira in Handel's Hercules with conductor William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, and Aix-en-Provence Festival, aired on television in 2005, released on DVD 2005.^[18]
• Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville with conductor Antonio Pappano at the Royal Opera House, released on DVD in 2010
• Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola with conductor Patrick Summers at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, released on DVD in 2010

References[link]

External links[link]

• Joyce DiDonato Official Website
• An interview with Joyce DiDonato, June 2012
• An interview with Joyce DiDonato, September 2008
• Yankee Diva Joyce DiDonato's blog
• Joyce DiDonato's Management at IMG Artists
• Joyce DiDonato – Virgin Classics Official Website
• Joyce DiDonato – EMI Classics UK for Concert Dates and Releases in the UK
• Joyce DiDonato – EMI Classics Germany

Juan Diego Flórez by Pietro Spagnoli, 2009.

Juan Diego Flórez Salom (born January 13, 1973 in Lima, Peru)^[1] is a Peruvian operatic tenor, particularly known for his roles in bel canto operas. On June 4, 2007, he received his country's highest decoration, the Gran Cruz de la Orden del Sol del Perú.^[2]

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Juan Diego Flórez was born in Lima, Peru, on January 13, 1973 where his father, Rubén Flórez, was a noted guitarist and singer of Peruvian popular and criolla music. In an interview in the Peruvian newspaper Ojo, Flórez recounted his early days when his mother managed a pub with live music and he worked as a replacement singer whenever the main attraction called in sick. "It was a tremendous experience for me, since most of those who were regulars at the pub were of a certain age, so I had to be ready to sing anything from huayños to Elvis Presley music and, in my mind, that served me a great deal because, in the final analysis, any music that is well structured—whether it is jazz, opera, or pop—is good music".^[3]

Initially intending to pursue a career in popular music, he entered the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima at the age of 17. His classical voice emerged in the course of his studies there under Maestro Andrés Santa María. During this time, he became a member of the Coro Nacional of Peru and sang as a soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle.

He received a scholarship to the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where he studied from 1993 to 1996 and began singing in student opera productions in the repertory that is still his specialty today, Rossini and the bel canto operas of Bellini and Donizetti. During this period, he also studied with Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. In 1994 the Peruvian tenor, Ernesto Palacio invited him to Italy to work on a recording of Vicente Martín y Soler's opera Il Tutore Burlato. He subsequently became Flórez's teacher, mentor and manager and has had a profound influence on his career.

1996 – present[link]

This article is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Please see the talk page for more information. (April 2011)

Flórez's first breakthrough and professional debut came in 1996, at the Rossini Festival in the Italian city of Pesaro, Rossini's birthplace. At the age of 23, he stepped in to take the leading tenor role in Matilde di Shabran when Bruce Ford became ill. He made his debut at La Scala in the same year as the Chevalier danois (Danish Knight) in Gluck's Armide, and later in the year he sang the role of Georges in Meyerbeer's L'étoile du nord with Wexford Festival Opera. His Covent Garden debut followed in 1997 where he sang the role of Count Potoski in a world premiere concert performance of Donizetti's Elisabetta. Debuts followed at the Vienna State Opera in 1999 as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia and at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 2002, again as Count Almaviva. On February 20, 2007, the opening night of Donizetti's La fille du régiment at La Scala, Flórez broke the theater's 74-year-old tradition of no encores when he reprised "Ah! mes amis" with its nine high C's following an "overwhelming" ovation from the audience.^[4] He repeated this solo encore at New York's Metropolitan Opera House on April 21, 2008, the first singer to do so there since 1994.^[5][6]

Flórez is also active on the concert stages of Europe, North America, and South America. Amongst the many venues in which he has given concerts and recitals are the Wigmore Hall in London, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the Teatro Segura in Lima, and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. In a departure from his usual repertoire, he sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Broadway musical Carousel at the Berlin Live 8 concert in 2005.

He was signed by Decca in 2001 and since then has released six solo recital CDs on the Decca label: Rossini Arias, which won the 2003 Cannes Classical Award; Una furtiva lagrima, which won the 2004 Cannes Classical Award; Great Tenor Arias which won the 2005 Echo Klassik award for the best arias and duets recital; Sentimiento Latino; Arias for Rubini and most recently, Bel Canto Spectacular. His latest recording is Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice, recorded live in May 2008.^[7] In addition to his official discography, almost all his professionally performed roles have been preserved in radio broadcasts, and many also by television.

Voice[link]

Flórez has a leggiero tenor voice of exceptional beauty which, while not of great size,^{[citation needed]} is nevertheless audible in even the largest houses due to the predominance of high frequencies in its harmonic structure.^{[citation needed]} Its compass is two octaves, up to and including the high E flat (Zelmira, 2009 in live performance, also on CD in an aria by Bellini—"All udir de padre afflitto"—in the CD Arias for Rubini), the higher part of its range being particularly strong and brilliant, with almost no sense of effort, while the lowest notes are comparatively weaker.^{[citation needed]} The head and chest registers are perfectly integrated, with no audible break in the passaggio.^[8] His breath control is impeccable, allowing the longest phrases to be sustained with apparent ease.^{[citation needed]} The ornaments of bel canto, including the trill, are well executed, and stylistic errors such as intrusive aspirates generally eschewed.^[9] Perhaps the most distinctive technical accomplishment is the singer's mastery of coloratura heard to best effect in his Idreno (Semiramide) and Corradino (Matilde di Shabran).^[10]

Awards and distinctions[link]

Juan Diego Flórez has been recognized by his native country with several awards and distinctions. In May 2004, he received the Orden al Mérito Cultural de Lima, from the Mayor of Lima; the Orden al Mérito por servicios distinguidos en el grado de Gran Cruz from President Alejandro Toledo; and was named an Honorary Professor of San Martín de Porres University. On June 4, 2007, he received his country's highest honor, the Gran Cruz de la Orden El Sol del Perú, from President Alan García.

Flórez also appeared on the 2-sol stamp, part of a series of five stamps honouring contemporary Peruvian musicians issued on November 29, 2004. It is highly unusual for a living opera singer to have been honoured in his home country this way, particularly one so young. (Flórez was 31 at the time).^[11] (The portrait of Flórez used on the stamp was by British photographer, Trevor Leighton,^[12] and was also used for the cover of his 2003 CD Una Furtiva Lagrima.)^[13]

From the classical music world he has received the Premio Abbiati 2000 (awarded by Italian critics for the best singer of the year); the Rossini d'oro; the Bellini d'oro; the Premio Aureliano Pertile; the Tamagno Prize; and the L'Opera award (Migliore Tenore) for his 2001 performance in La sonnambula at La Scala.

In 2009, Flórez was nominated for the Best Classical Vocal Performance in the 52nd Grammy Awards for his album, Bel Canto Spectacular (Decca).^[14]

Personal life[link]

Flórez married German-born Australian^[15] Julia Trappe in a private civil ceremony on April 23, 2007 in Vienna. They held a religious ceremony at the Basilica Cathedral in Lima on April 5, 2008, which some of Peru's greatest celebrities, including President Alan García and author Mario Vargas Llosa, attended.^[16] Flórez was present at the birth of his son, Leandro, who was born on April 9, 2011, less than an hour before Flórez took to the stage in Le comte Ory, broadcast live around the world from the Met.^[17]

Roles sung on stage[link]

Bellini

• I Capuleti e i Montecchi — Tebaldo (student performance)
• I puritani — Arturo
• La sonnambula — Elvino

Donizetti

• Don Pasquale — Ernesto
• Elisabetta — Conte Potoski (concert performance)
• L'elisir d'amore — Nemorino
• La fille du régiment — Tonio
• Maria Stuarda — Leicester

Gluck

• Armide — Le chevalier danois
• Orphée et Eurydice — Orphée (concert performance)

Lehár

• The Merry Widow — Camille de Rosillon (student performance)

Martín y Soler

• Il tutore burlato— Anselmo (concert performance)

Meyerbeer

• L'étoile du nord — Georges

Mozart

• Le nozze di Figaro — Basilio (student performance)

Paisiello

• Nina, o sia, la pazza per amore — Lindoro

Prado

• The Nightingale and the Rose — The student (student performance)

Puccini

• Gianni Schicchi — Rinuccio

Rossini

• Il barbiere di Siviglia — Conte di Almaviva
• La Cenerentola — Don Ramiro
• L'italiana in Algeri — Lindoro
• Matilde di Shabran — Corradino
• Il signor Bruschino — Florville
• Semiramide — Idreno
• Le comte Ory — Comte Ory
• Otello — Rodrigo
• La donna del lago — Giacomo V
• Il viaggio a Reims — Belfiore (student performance) & Libenskof
• Zelmira — Ilo

Rota

• Il cappello di paglia di Firenze — Fadinard

Strauss

• Die Fledermaus — Alfred (student performance)

Verdi

• Falstaff — Fenton
• Rigoletto — Duke of Mantua

Discography[link]

Opera

• Alahor in Granata, Donizetti. Conductor: Josep Pons, CD: Almaviva, 1999
• Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini. Conductor: Ralf Weikert CD: Live performance (1997), Nightingale Classics, 2004
• Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini. Conductor: Gianluigi Gelmetti, DVD & Blu-ray: Live performance (2005), Decca, 2005
• La Cenerentola, Rossini. Conductor: Carlo Rizzi, CD: Live performance (2000), Rossini Opera Festival & Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pesaro, 2001
• Le Comte Ory Rossini. Conductor: Jesus Lopez-Cobos, CD: Live performance (2003), Deutsche Grammophon, 2004
• Don Pasquale, Donizetti. Conductor: Maurizio Benini, DVD & Blu-ray: Live performance (2006), Decca, 2007
• L'Etoile du Nord, Meyerbeer. Conductor: Wladimir Jurowski, CD: Marco Polo, 1997
• Falstaff, Verdi. Conductor: Riccardo Muti, DVD: Live performance (2001), EuroArts, 2003
• La Fille du régiment, Donizetti. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza, DVD: Live performance (2005), Decca, 2006
• La Fille du régiment, Donizetti. Conductor: Bruno Campanella, DVD: Live performance (2007), Virgin Classics, 2008
• Matilde di Shabran, Rossini. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza, CD: Live performance (2004), Decca, 2006
• Mitridate, Mozart. Conductor: Christophe Rousset, CD: Decca, 1999
• Nina, o sia La pazza per amore, Paisiello. Conductor: Riccardo Muti, CD: Ricordi, 2000
• Orphée et Eurydice, Gluck. Conductor: Lopez-Cobos, CD: Live performance (2008), Decca, 2010
• Semiramide, Rossini. Conductor Marcello Panni, CD: Nightingale Classics, 2001
• La sonnambula, Bellini. Conductor: Alessandro de Marchi, CD: Decca (2008)
• La sonnambula, Bellini. Conductor: Evelino Pidò, DVD: Live performance (2009), Decca (2010)
• Il tutore burlato, Martin y Soler. Conductor: Miguel Harth-Bedoya, CD: Bongiovanni, 1995

Oratorio & Sacred Music

• Cantatas Vol.2, Rossini. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly, CD: Decca, 2001
• Messa Solenne, Verdi. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly, CD: Decca, 2000
• Stabat Mater, Rossini. Conductor: Gianluigi Gelmetti, CD: Agora, 1998
• Le tre ore dell'agonia del Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo, Niccolò Zingarelli. Conductor: Pierangelo Pelucchi, CD: Agora, 1995

Recital

• Flórez para Chabuca (with Rubén Flórez, his father). Quadrasonic Ideas y Morrison Music & Video.
• Canto al Peru (with Ernesto Palacio). Piano: Samuele Pala, CD: Bongiovanni, 1997
• Rossiniana. Conductor: Manlio Benzi, CD: Agora, 1998
• Vesselina Kasarova Arias & Duets. Conductor: Arthur Fagen, CD: RCA, 1999
• Rossini Arias. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly, CD: Decca, 2002
• Una Furtiva Lagrima, Bellini, Donizetti. Conductor: Riccardo Frizza, CD: Decca, 2003
• Great Tenor Arias, Verdi, Gluck, Rossini. Conductor: Carlo Rizzi, CD: Decca, 2004
• Sentimiento Latino, Spanish & Latin American songs. Conductor: Miguel Harth-Bedoya, CD: Decca, 2006
• Arias for Rubini, Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini. Conductor: Roberto Abbado, CD: Decca 2007
• Bel Canto Spectacular, Bellini & Donizetti arias & duets. Conductor: Daniel Oren, CD: Decca 2008

References[link]

Further sources

• Ashley, Tim, 'He's got no strings', The Guardian, 14 March 2002
• Canning, Hugh, 'He'll take the high road', The Sunday Times, 11 November 2001
• Cárdenas, Miguel Ángel, 'Un peruano en la Scala de Milán', La República, 1 September 2002
• Ernesto Palacio Artists Management, Official Biography and Repertory List of Juan Diego Flórez
• Hurwitz, David, 'From Peru to Pesaro — Interview with Juan Diego Flórez', Classics Today, May 2002
• Rodríguez, Gustavo, 'Juan Diego Flórez - Notas de una voz', Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, 2007, ISBN 978-9972-228-98-8
• Segovia, Emilio, 'La formación de un tenor rossiniano', Pro Ópera, November/December 2003

External links[link]

• Decca Official web site
• "Florezidos" Official fan site
• Management (Ernesto Palacio Artists Management)
• Juan Diego Flórez singing the National Anthem of Peru – Official web site of the Ministry of Defense of Peru.