Franco Fagioli

Franco Fagioli is one of the most internationally successful countertenors of the younger generation, generating particular enthusiasm for his interpretation of Handel’s heroes Giulio Cesare, Ariodante, Teseo and Bertarido. With his technical perfection and radiant voice he has set new standards in countertenor singing. Victory in the NEUE STIMMEN international singing competition in 2003, when he performed “Venga pur, minacci e frema” from Mozart’s Mitridate, launched him on his career, and since then he has appeared in many of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. In 2011 he was awarded the Premio Abbiati as Singer of the Year, while the Italian opera magazine L’Opera recently voted him Countertenor of the Year for his performances as Bertarido in Rodelinda. He has recently become particularly closely associated with the Salzburg Festival: having made his role début as Andronico alongside Plácido Domingo’s Tamerlano in Handel’s opera at the 2012 summer festival, he will be returning in May 2013 as Isacco in Niccolò Jommelli’s oratorio Isacco figura del Redentore. Courtesy of Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition.