Peruvian operatic tenor Juan Diego Florez, particularly known for his roles in bel canto operas, will sing a night of classical opera songs in Shenzhen.
In an interview in the Peruvian newspaper Ojo, Florez 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 huaynos 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,” said Florez.
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. 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 the United States where he studied from 1993 to 1996. During this period, he also studied with Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West. In 1994, Peruvian tenor Ernesto Palacio invited him to Italy to work on a recording of Vicente Martin y Soler’s opera “Il Tutore Burlato.” Palacio subsequently became Florez’s teacher, mentor and manager and has had a profound influence on his career.
Florez is also active on the concert stages of Europe, North America and South America. He was signed by Decca in 2001 and since then has released six solo recital CDs on the Decca label.
In 2007, he received his country’s highest decoration, the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Sun of Peru.
Scan the QR code to buy tickets:
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 5
Tickets: 280-880 yuan
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (福田区深圳音乐厅)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D