The Music Pages | September 2006


Vittorio Grigolo Biography Born in Arezzo in 1977, Vittorio Grigolo moved to Rome where from an early age he performed as a soloist in the Sistine Chapel Choir. At the age of thirteen he made is debut in the role of Pastorello in Tosca at the Rome Opera Theatre, directed by Daniel Oren. He then began to study, improving with the help of Bass Danilo Rigosa, who still continues as his tutor. In 1996 he won a scholarship at the 12th "R. and F. Mecenati" International Song Competition, which gives him a debut at just 19 in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. In the same year he traveled both to Vienna and to Spalato for a production of Turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy), playing Don Narciso. Subsequently in Italy he played Count Almaviva in the Barber of Seville, at Florence's May Music Festival and at the Verona Philharmonic. He later reappeared at the Rome Opera Theatre and the Verona Philharmonic, playing the role of Nemorino in The Elixir of Love, from which he received great success both publicly and critically. At 22 he debuted at the Cagliari Opera Theatre in the role of Don Ottavio, proving a huge success. In 2000, at the age of 23, he debuted at the La Scala Theatre in Milan in the opening concert of Verdi Year, directed by Riccardo Muti (CD - La Scala Edition). He has performed in numerous concerts broadcast live on television, including the New Year's Concert attended by the President of the Republic of Italy. Just a few years later he is singing for major operatic institutions under the direction of Riccardo Muti, Daniel Oren, Myung-Whun Chung, Lorin Maazel, Gianluigi Gelmetti and Daniele Gatti. His repertoire includes particular operas such as: The Elixir of Love, La Traviata, Falstaff, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Lakmé, Werther and Faust. He has appeared in some of the masterworks of the composing elite, including: Petite Messe Solennelle and Stabat Mater by Rossini, Vesprae Solemnes and Litaniae Lauretane by Mozart and Verdi's Messa da Requiem. In the 2003 season he played the role of Tony in West Side Story at Milan's La Scala. For the opening of the opera season at the Massimo Theatre in Palermo he made his debut in Lakmè by L. Delibes, playing the role of English officer Gérard. Immediately after he was called to participate in the Concert held in honour of Maria Callas at the new Santa Cecilia "Parco della Musica" Auditorium in Rome. During the 2004/05 season he debuted in the opera Candid at the Carlo Felice Theatre in Genoa, playing characteristic roles of Vanderderdur, Ragotski and the Governor. In the same season he also debuted in the role of Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow at the Verona Philharmonic Theatre, directed by Gino Landi. Straight after at the Florentine May Music Festival, he continued in the Petite Messe Solemnelle by Rossini. He was subsequently recalled to Palermo to play the role of Nemorino in Donizzetti's opera The Elixir of Love, conducted by Maestro Maurizio Arena. In the Rome Opera Theatre's summer season he performed the Messa da Requiem by G. Verdi in the wonderful, evocative setting of the Baths of Caracalla, under the conduction of Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti. For the opening concert of symphony season at the Santa Cecilia Auditorium in Rome, he was called in by Maestro Myung Whum Chung to perform the role of Arbace in Mozart's Idomeneo. For the celebrations of Mozart Year he performed, at the Rome Opera Theatre and under the direction of G. Gelmetti, the role of Ferrando in the opera Così Fan Tutte, gaining great public and written accolade even on an international level. In July 2005, after a call from Maestro Daniel Oren, he appeared at the International Operetta Festival at the Verdi Opera Theatre in Trieste, playing the role of Count Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow by F. Lehar, demonstrating his strong temperament and passion in romantic roles. In the same season, he debuted in the role of the Duke of Mantova in Verdi's Rigoletto, at the Hamburg Staatsoper. For the opening of the operatic season he appeared at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, playing the part of Cassius in Othello by G. Verdi. In this role, the critique highlighted his scenic strength eulogising his character, technique and timbre. His first album "In The Hands of Love", of Pop/Opera genre, entered the British Top Ten setting a new sales record confirming him as the leading classical solo artist. He recently made his debut with a concert held at prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, where he returned in the past month to appear at the "Classical Brit Awards" evening, where along with singers such as Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, etc. he performed arias taken from his repertoire. NB: At the personal invitation of Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti, Vittorio has been invited to perform in an all-Rossini concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in May 2007. RETURN TO CLASSICS PRIORITIES

Vittorio Grigolo Biography

Born in Arezzo in 1977, Vittorio Grigolo moved to Rome where from an early age he performed as a soloist in the Sistine Chapel Choir. At the age of thirteen he made is debut in the role of Pastorello in Tosca at the Rome Opera Theatre, directed by Daniel Oren.

He then began to study, improving with the help of Bass Danilo Rigosa, who still continues as his tutor.

In 1996 he won a scholarship at the 12th "R. and F. Mecenati" International Song Competition, which gives him a debut at just 19 in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. In the same year he traveled both to Vienna and to Spalato for a production of Turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy), playing Don Narciso.

Subsequently in Italy he played Count Almaviva in the Barber of Seville, at Florence's May Music Festival and at the Verona Philharmonic. He later reappeared at the Rome Opera Theatre and the Verona Philharmonic, playing the role of Nemorino in The Elixir of Love, from which he received great success both publicly and critically. At 22 he debuted at the Cagliari Opera Theatre in the role of Don Ottavio, proving a huge success.

In 2000, at the age of 23, he debuted at the La Scala Theatre in Milan in the opening concert of Verdi Year, directed by Riccardo Muti (CD - La Scala Edition).

He has performed in numerous concerts broadcast live on television, including the New Year's Concert attended by the President of the Republic of Italy.

Just a few years later he is singing for major operatic institutions under the direction of Riccardo Muti, Daniel Oren, Myung-Whun Chung, Lorin Maazel, Gianluigi Gelmetti and Daniele Gatti. His repertoire includes particular operas such as: The Elixir of Love, La Traviata, Falstaff, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Lakmé, Werther and Faust.

He has appeared in some of the masterworks of the composing elite, including: Petite Messe Solennelle and Stabat Mater by Rossini, Vesprae Solemnes and Litaniae Lauretane by Mozart and Verdi's Messa da Requiem.

In the 2003 season he played the role of Tony in West Side Story at Milan's La Scala. For the opening of the opera season at the Massimo Theatre in Palermo he made his debut in Lakmè by L. Delibes, playing the role of English officer Gérard.
Immediately after he was called to participate in the Concert held in honour of Maria Callas at the new Santa Cecilia "Parco della Musica" Auditorium in Rome.

During the 2004/05 season he debuted in the opera Candid at the Carlo Felice Theatre in Genoa, playing characteristic roles of Vanderderdur, Ragotski and the Governor.
In the same season he also debuted in the role of Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow at the Verona Philharmonic Theatre, directed by Gino Landi.

Straight after at the Florentine May Music Festival, he continued in the Petite Messe Solemnelle by Rossini.

He was subsequently recalled to Palermo to play the role of Nemorino in Donizzetti's opera The Elixir of Love, conducted by Maestro Maurizio Arena.

In the Rome Opera Theatre's summer season he performed the Messa da Requiem by G. Verdi in the wonderful, evocative setting of the Baths of Caracalla, under the conduction of Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti.

For the opening concert of symphony season at the Santa Cecilia Auditorium in Rome, he was called in by Maestro Myung Whum Chung to perform the role of Arbace in Mozart's Idomeneo.

For the celebrations of Mozart Year he performed, at the Rome Opera Theatre and under the direction of G. Gelmetti, the role of Ferrando in the opera Così Fan Tutte, gaining great public and written accolade even on an international level.

In July 2005, after a call from Maestro Daniel Oren, he appeared at the International Operetta Festival at the Verdi Opera Theatre in Trieste, playing the role of Count Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow by F. Lehar, demonstrating his strong temperament and passion in romantic roles.

In the same season, he debuted in the role of the Duke of Mantova in Verdi's Rigoletto, at the Hamburg Staatsoper.

For the opening of the operatic season he appeared at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, playing the part of Cassius in Othello by G. Verdi. In this role, the critique highlighted his scenic strength eulogising his character, technique and timbre.

His first album "In The Hands of Love", of Pop/Opera genre, entered the British Top Ten setting a new sales record confirming him as the leading classical solo artist. He recently made his debut with a concert held at prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London, where he returned in the past month to appear at the "Classical Brit Awards" evening, where along with singers such as Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, etc. he performed arias taken from his repertoire.

NB: At the personal invitation of Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti, Vittorio has been invited to perform in an all-Rossini concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in May 2007.

RETURN TO CLASSICS PRIORITIES