Juan Diego Flórez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Juan Diego Flórez
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Flórez in 2015
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| Born | 13 January 1973 Miraflores, Lima, Peru
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| Occupation | Opera singer (tenor) |
| Years active | 1996–present |
Juan Diego Flórez (born January 13, 1973) is a world-famous Peruvian opera singer. He is a tenor, which means he sings in a very high male vocal range. He is especially known for singing in bel canto operas, a style famous for its beautiful and difficult vocal parts.
In 2007, Flórez received the highest award given in his home country of Peru, the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Sun of Peru.
Contents
From Pop Music to Opera Star
A Musical Childhood
Juan Diego Flórez was born in Lima, Peru. His father, Rubén Flórez, was a talented guitarist and singer of Peruvian folk music. Music was always a part of his life. His mother ran a pub with live music, and if the main singer couldn't make it, a young Juan Diego would step in.
He learned to sing all kinds of music, from traditional Peruvian songs to songs by Elvis Presley. This experience helped him understand that all well-made music is good, whether it's pop, jazz, or opera.
At first, he wanted to be a pop singer. But when he was 17, he joined the National Conservatory of Music in Lima. There, he discovered his powerful classical voice. He soon became a soloist in the National Choir of Peru.
Studying in America and Italy
Flórez earned a scholarship to study at the famous Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, USA, from 1993 to 1996. He began to focus on the music he is known for today: the bel canto operas of Italian composers like Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.
In 1994, another Peruvian tenor named Ernesto Palacio invited him to Italy. Palacio became his teacher and manager and helped guide his amazing career.
A Career on the World Stage
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A Surprise Debut
Flórez's big break came in 1996 at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy. He was only 23 years old. The main tenor for the opera Matilde di Shabran became sick, and Flórez had to step in at the last minute. His performance was a huge success and launched his international career.
That same year, he performed at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. Soon, he was singing in all the major opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Breaking a 74-Year-Old Tradition
On February 20, 2007, Flórez did something incredible at La Scala. While performing in the opera La fille du régiment, the audience loved his singing of the aria "Ah! mes amis" so much that they wouldn't stop clapping. This aria is famous for having nine difficult high C notes.
In response to the wild applause, Flórez sang the entire difficult piece again. This was a big deal because La Scala had a 74-year-old tradition of not allowing encores (when a performer repeats a piece). He was the first singer to break that tradition in a very long time. He did it again at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2008.
A Special Voice
Flórez is known for his smooth and flexible voice. He can move from low notes to high notes without any noticeable change or break. His voice is perfect for bel canto music, which requires a lot of skill.
He is a master of coloratura, which is a style of singing with fast scales, trills, and other decorations. Critics have praised his ability to sing these very difficult parts with ease and beauty.
Awards and Honors
Flórez has received many awards for his talent. In his home country of Peru, he is a national hero.
- He was named an Honorary Professor at the San Martín de Porres University.
- In 2004, he appeared on a 2-sol postage stamp. It is very rare for a living opera singer to be honored this way, especially at only 31 years old.
- In 2007, he received the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Sun of Peru, the most important honor in the country.
- In 2012, he was given the title of Kammersänger in Austria, a special honor for a distinguished singer.
He has also won many classical music awards, including the Premio Abbiati for best singer of the year from Italian critics.
Personal Life
In 2008, Flórez married Julia Trappe in a large ceremony at the Basilica Cathedral in Lima, Peru. Many famous people attended, including the president of Peru.
They have two children, a son named Leandro and a daughter named Lucia. Leandro was born in 2011, just an hour before his father was scheduled to perform live in New York.
Famous Roles and Recordings
Flórez has performed in dozens of operas around the world. He has also released many successful albums.
Popular Roles
Some of his most famous roles on stage include:
- Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
- Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola (Rossini)
- Tonio in La fille du régiment (Donizetti)
- Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore (Donizetti)
- Romeo in Roméo et Juliette (Gounod)
- The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto (Verdi)
Selected Albums
- Rossini Arias (2002): An album of famous arias by composer Gioachino Rossini.
- Una Furtiva Lagrima (2003): Features arias from bel canto operas.
- Sentimiento Latino (2006): An album of Spanish and Latin American songs.
- Bel Canto Spectacular (2008): An album of arias and duets that earned him a Grammy nomination.
- Mozart (2017): An album dedicated to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Diego Flórez para niños
