Juan Diego Flórez Facts for Kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Flórez and the second or maternal family name is Salom.

Quick facts for kids OSP Juan Diego Flórez
Flórez, 2015
Born	(1973-01-13) 13 January 1973 (age 52) Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Occupation	Opera singer (tenor)
Years active	1996–present

Juan Diego Flórez (born January 13, 1973) is a famous Peruvian opera singer. He is a tenor, which means he sings with a high male voice. He is especially known for his amazing performances in a style of opera called bel canto. This style focuses on beautiful singing and showing off the singer's voice. In 2007, he received Peru's highest award, the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Sun of Peru.

About Juan Diego Flórez
His Amazing Voice
Awards and Special Honors
His Family Life
Opera Roles He Has Sung
See also

About Juan Diego Flórez

His Early Life and Music Journey

Juan Diego Flórez was born in Miraflores, Lima, Peru in 1973. His father, Rubén Flórez Pinedo, was a well-known guitarist and singer of Peruvian folk music.

When he was young, his mother ran a pub with live music. Juan Diego sometimes sang there when the main singer was sick. He said this experience was very important for him. He had to be ready to sing all kinds of music, from Peruvian folk songs to Elvis Presley! He learned that good music is good music, no matter the style.

At 17, he wanted to be a pop musician and joined the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima. While studying there, his amazing classical voice became clear. He also sang in the Coro Nacional (National Choir) of Peru. He performed as a soloist in famous classical works like Mozart's Coronation Mass.

Studying Music and Opera

Juan Diego received a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He studied there from 1993 to 1996. During this time, he started singing in student opera shows. He focused on the type of opera he is famous for today: bel canto operas by composers like Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti.

In 1994, a Peruvian tenor named Ernesto Palacio invited him to Italy. Palacio became Flórez's teacher, mentor, and manager. He greatly helped shape Flórez's career.

Starting His International Career

Flórez performing La flor de la canela at the Washington National Opera

Juan Diego Flórez's big break came in 1996 at the Rossini Opera Festival in Italy. He was only 23 years old when he had to step in for another singer. He took the main tenor role in the opera Matilde di Shabran.

That same year, he made his debut at La Scala, a very famous opera house in Italy. He also performed at the Covent Garden in London in 1997. He later debuted at the Vienna State Opera in 1999 and the New York Metropolitan Opera in 2002.

A special moment happened on February 20, 2007, at La Scala. During an opera called La fille du régiment, Flórez sang a song with nine high C notes. The audience loved it so much that they cheered for a long time. He broke a 74-year-old tradition at La Scala by singing the song again! He did this again at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2008.

Concerts and Recordings

Besides opera, Flórez also performs in concerts around the world. He has sung in famous places like Wigmore Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2005, he sang a song from the musical Carousel at the Live 8 concert in Berlin.

He signed with Decca Records in 2001 and has released many solo albums. These albums have won several awards. In 2010, he sang the UEFA Champions League Final Anthem in Madrid.

More recently, he has started singing in operas with more "lyric" roles, like Massenet's Werther. Critics have praised his performances, saying he sings with great skill and beauty.

His Amazing Voice

Juan Diego Flórez's voice is known for being very smooth and clear. When he sings, you can't hear any breaks between his different vocal ranges. He is excellent at singing the fancy, fast parts in bel canto music, called coloratura. He can also perform trills perfectly. Many critics have praised his mastery of these difficult singing techniques.

Awards and Special Honors

Juan Diego Flórez has received many awards from his home country, Peru. In 2004, he received the Order of merit from the Mayor of Lima. He was also named an Honorary Professor at San Martín de Porres University. On June 4, 2007, he received Peru's highest honor, the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Sun of Peru.

Since 2012, he has been an Austrian Kammersänger. This is a special title given to outstanding opera singers in Austria.

In 2004, Peru even put his picture on a 2-sol stamp! It's very rare for a living opera singer, especially a young one, to be honored this way.

He has also won many awards from the classical music world. These include the Premio Abbiati 2000 for best singer of the year and the L'Opera award for best tenor. In 2009, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Bel Canto Spectacular.

His Family Life

Juan Diego Flórez married Julia Trappe in Vienna in 2007. They had a religious ceremony in Lima, Peru, in 2008. Important people like Peru's President Alan García attended.

They have two children. Their son, Leandro, was born in April 2011. Juan Diego was there for his birth, and less than an hour later, he was on stage performing! Their daughter, Lucia Stella, was born in January 2014.