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Discography

Vittorio Grigolo

Vittorio Grigolo Exclusive Interview with C Music TV

From his debut as soloist in the choir of the Sistine Chapel to his role as leading tenor in the most prestigious theatres in the world, the career of Vittorio Grigolo is a story of talent, passion and dedication.

Vittorio Grigolo, born in Arezzo and raised in Rome, studies singing at the Sistine Chapel’s Schola Puerorum cantorum, under the direction of Maestro Domenico Bartolucci.

It is in the Eternal City that he first appears, at just 13, as the young shepherd in Tosca at the Opera House in Roma, beside Luciano Pavarotti.

At 17 he makes his debut as a tenor, the following year he begins to make a name for himself abroad, interpreting Don Narciso in Gioacchino Rossini’s “Il Turco in Italia” (The Turk in Italy), at the Kammeroper in Vienna.

At 23 years of age, in 2000, he is the youngest tenor to inaugurate the La Scala Theatre in Milan with the Verdi inspired concert to open the season.

In just a few short years Vittorio Grigolo begins to perform on the most important stages in the world, under the direction of Riccardo Chailly, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Myung-Whun Chung, Daniel Oren and Antonio Pappano.

In 2010 he debuts overseas with the role of Rodolfo in La Bohe`me, which crowns him as the new star of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The repertoire of Vittorio Grigolo includes the leading roles in Italian and French opera: La Traviata, La Bohe`me, Rigoletto, Elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Faust, Rome´o et Juliette, Manon, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Werther and many others.

With a debut album (platinum disk), a Grammy nomination for “West Side Story by Bernstein”, and albums with Sony Classical “Il tenore italiano” (# 1 on the Billboard chart-classical album), “Arrivederci” (2011), “Ave Maria” (2012), “Les plus grands airs de l’ope´ra italien” (2013) and “The Romantic Hero” (2014), Vittorio Grigolo has a career filled with great recording successes.

Amongst the most memorable live performances of this extraordinary tenor, the tour “Italia…Un Sogno” (Italy… A Dream) for the Belpaese and the concert for the storming of the Bastille, near the Eiffel Tower, with an audience of more than 800 thousand people.

His performance at the Metropolitan Opera was reviewed as “a truly unforgettable evening” (Latinos Post) and his voice described as “an interesting instrument, ardent and flexible, that he handles with passion.” (New York Times).

With the aim of bringing opera to the young, by taking it out of the traditional location of the theatre, Vittorio Grigolo was the first to bring two famous operas to the most unusual stages: La Traviata at the central station in Zurich (2008) and l’Elisir d’amore at Milan’s Malpensa airport (2015). Because, as he says, “Opera needs to renew its audience, but the young also need to rediscover their cultural roots”

On screen Vittorio Grigolo has interpreted the Duke of Mantua in the television film “Rigoletto a Mantova”, broadcast live and produced by Rai based on an idea by Andrea Andermann and directed by Marco Bellocchio. Just as celebrated and acclaimed is the direct satellite broadcast of La Bohe`me from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, with direction and scenography by Franco Zeffirelli.

In 2011 he opens the Special Olympic Games in Athens, performing “Nessun Dorma”, the following year he stars in the video “The Bad Boy Of Opera” made by Bruce Weber for Vanity Fair Italia.
In 2017 he participates in the short film The Good Italian part III beside the Prince of Soragna/Giancarlo Giannini, on a journey to search for inspiration that sets out from the historical residence “Rocca Meli Lupi” in Soragna, to end up in Naples.

Vittorio Grigolo received the “European Border Breakers award” for his first album as a solo artist “In the Hands of love” (Polydor), the “Best Tenor” 2011 from Opera Magazine for his performance as “Des Grieux” at the Royal Opera House in London (2010) and the prestigious “ECHO Klassik Newcomer of the Year” in 2011.

In 2015 the Sorrento Town Council awarded him the Premio Caruso for his contribution to spreading Italian culture around the world. Again, in 2015 he receives the “Tiberini d’Oro” in recognition of his successful career in opera.

The following year it is the turn of the “Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award” from the Atlantic Council for his contribution to strengthening transatlantic relations and the 2016 Premio Puccini, as recognition for his expressive and passionate interpretation of one of the most captivating roles in the Puccini repertoire, Rodolfo.

And indeed, it is with Rodolfo that Vittorio Grigolo has trodden the boards of the world’s leading theatres, including the evocative venue of the Arena of Pompei, under the direction of Alberto Veronesi, Chairman of the Pucci Festival Foundation who was entrusted with delivering this prestigious award.

On the 6th September 2017, in the temple of opera, the Arena in Verona, Vittorio has the honour of interpreting the song-romance “Luciano” written by Nicola Piovani on the evening to commemorate 10 years since the death of Luciano Pavarotti, inspiration and mentor to Grigolo.

Again in 2017, he receives the NIAF Special Achievement award from the National Italian American Foundation.
During 2018, Vittorio Grigolo interprets L’Elisir d’amore (Paris and Monaco), La Bohe`me (New York), Gianni Schicchi and L’heure espagnole (Paris), Lucia di Lammermoor (New York) and Tosca (Vienna).

In the same year he is in concert as solo artist in Oman and in Tokyo.
Once again in 2018, Vittorio Grigolo is given the Opera News Awards in New York for his exceptional contribution to the world of opera.

He makes many forays into the world of pop music, with which he confirms himself to be the legitimate heir to the format successfully pursued by his mentor Pavarotti.
In 2015 Vittorio Grigolo shares the stage with Brian May on the gala evening “Lo spettacolo sta per iniziare” (The Show is about to begin) at the Arena in Verona.

The following year he performs with Sting at the Carnegie Hall for the biennial Revlon Concert for the Rainforest Fund, organised by Sting and by Trudie Styler.
His interpretation of “Caruso” by Lucio Dalla, with whom he shared a great friendship, is truly memorable.