Franco Fagioli

Giasone

A German critic wrote about Franco Fagioli's talent: "His sensational voice, combining alto and soprano (!) is crystal clear. Its originality and pureness - did Farinelli sound like that ? - sets new standards."

Franco Fagioli was born in 1981 at San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina). He studied first piano at the Music Institute of the Tucuman University and, later on, singing at the Institute of Art of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. In 1997 he founded the choir of San Martin de Porres. This was an attempt to open the door towards music for adolescents of his region. Following the advice of his singing teacher, Annelise Skovmand, as well as that of Celina Lis and Maestro Ricardo Yost, he has specialised as a countertenor.

In 2003 he won the prestigious Bertelsmann singing competition "Neue Stimmen" in Germany. This was the start of his international career. Since then he has performed Hänsel and Gretel (Hänsel) at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Hercules (Lichas) by Handel at the Handel Festival in Halle, Lotario (Idelberto) at the Handel Festival in Karlsruhe, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon) at the Bonn Opera, Semele (Athamas) at the Essen Opera, Gluck's Ezio (title role) at the Ludwigsburg Festival, L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Zurich Opera, Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena (Cardenio) at the Innsbruck Festival, Orlando furioso (Ruggiero) at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genua, Giulio Cesare (Tolomeo) at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. With the title role in Handel's Giulio Cesare he has made sensation in Zurich, Oslo and Karlsruhe.

Highlights for 2008/09 included the title role in Handel's Teseo at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, Telemaco for the Argentinian Premiere of Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires and, last but not least, his acclaimed debut in recital at the sold out Staatsoper Stuttgart. His plans for this season include Ariodante (title role) at the Handel Festival in Karlsruhe, Giasone by Cavalli (title role) at the Chicago Opera Theatre for his USA debut and a World Premiere (Ainadamar von Golijov) at the Teatro Argentino in La Plata for the 200th Anniversary of the Argentinian Republic. Further plans include L'incoronazione di Poppea (Nerone) at the Cologne Opera and at the Dresden State Opera.

Franco Fagioli has collaborated with conductors such as Rinaldo Alessandrini, Alan Curtis, Gabriel Garrido, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Michael Hofstetter, René Jacobs, Konrad Junghänel, Jose Manuel Quintana, Marc Minkowski, Riccardo Muti and Christophe Rousset.

His discography includes a singer's portrait with arias by Handel and Mozart (Arte Nova/BMG Classics), Ezio by Gluck (SWR/Oehms Classics) and Teseo by Handel (SWR/Carus-Verlag). Upcoming recording plan is Berenice by Handel (EMI/Virgin Classics).

Cecilia Bartoli has personally invited Franco to take part in her next recital tour throughout Europe as a “special guest”. He will be singing Handel arias.