For his new album, Franco selects a collection of arias by Giovanni Battista Velluti, an Italian composer and singer who left an indelible mark on the musicians of his time as well as on those of subsequent generations. Gioachino Rossini and Saverio Mercadante, among the most important opera composers of the 19th century, together with the lesser-known – but worthy of being rediscovered for their industriousness and intense exchange with Velluti – Paolo Bonfichi, Giuseppe Nicolini and Francesco Morlacchi, are in fact the authors present in the recording.
Recorded last year under the baton of Stefan Plewniak and the Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal de Versailles, Franco says:
“This project has its roots in my love for Belcanto,” says Franco Fagioli, “which developed while I was a student at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, a place with a solid Italian operatic tradition. At the time, I was the first countertenor to study at the theater’s singing school, so much so that there weren’t even scores for my repertoire. That’s why I started to interpret mezzo-soprano roles, a term that defines my vocal register even better than countertenor and that I believe should be used regardless of genre.”
To celebrate the release of the album, Franco will embark on a tour to the USA and Canada in July with the orchestra and Stefan Plewniak.
Performance Dates
23rd July – L’Alliance, Florence Gould Theater
26th July – Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay, Joliette
29th July – Koerner Hall, Toronto
Further dates to be announced!
The recording is available on all major streaming platforms and CDs can also be purchased from the link here.