Marcello Giordani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcello Giordani
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Giordani as Verdi's Ernani
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Marcello Guagliardo
25 January 1963 Augusta, Italy
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| Died | 5 October 2019 (aged 56) Augusta, Italy
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Marcello Giordani (born Marcello Guagliardo; 1963–2019) was a famous Italian opera singer. He was a tenor, which means he sang the highest male voice parts in operas. Marcello Giordani performed in many major opera houses across Europe and the United States. He was especially well-known for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he sang in more than 240 shows. He also started a special group, the Marcello Giordani Foundation, to help new, young opera singers.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Marcello Giordani was born on January 25, 1963, in a small town called Augusta, Sicily, in Italy. From a young age, he showed a natural talent for singing. He took singing lessons and sang in his church choir.
When he was 19, he decided to follow his passion for music. He left his job at a bank to study singing. He first studied in Catania, then moved to Milan in 1983 to learn from a teacher named Nino Carta.
Giordani made his first professional opera appearance in 1986. He sang the role of the Duke in an opera called Rigoletto at a festival in Spoleto. Two years later, he performed at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan, singing Rodolfo in La bohème.
Becoming a Star Performer
Marcello Giordani quickly became popular in Italy and Europe. In 1988, he made his first appearance in the United States. He sang in Les pêcheurs de perles with Portland Opera. He then performed with many other American opera companies, including San Francisco Opera and Los Angeles Opera.
He also performed at the Vienna State Opera in Austria, starting in 1992. He sang 14 different roles there in 72 performances. His debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York was in 1993. He sang Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore in a park performance. His first show on the main stage of the Metropolitan Opera House was in 1995.
Overcoming Challenges and Major Successes
In 1994, Giordani faced some vocal problems. He began to retrain his voice with a teacher in New York. He kept performing during this time. In 1995, he sang in La traviata at Covent Garden in London. He said that the conductor, Sir Georg Solti, helped him a lot in rebuilding his career.
His career at the Met really took off after this. He sang in more than 240 performances there, playing 27 different roles. He was the main tenor in the Met's first performances of Benvenuto Cellini and Il pirata. He also sang in the Met's season opening shows in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he sang in a special performance of Verdi's Requiem to remember the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
A reviewer from The New York Times newspaper praised his singing. They said he sang with "full-bodied Italianate passion; warm, rich tone; and clarion top notes."
International Performances and New Roles
Giordani performed in many other famous opera houses and festivals around the world. These included the Opernhaus Zürich in Switzerland, the Opéra National de Paris in France, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Spain. He also sang at the Arena di Verona in Italy, an ancient Roman amphitheater.
In 2008, he performed in a concert in Beijing, China, during the Olympic Games. He also became the Artistic Director for Musical Events at a new arts center near his hometown in Augusta. He started teaching master classes there in December 2008.
Marcello Giordani Foundation
In 2010, Marcello Giordani created the Marcello Giordani Foundation. This foundation helps young opera singers who are just starting their careers. The first annual Marcello Giordani Vocal Competition was held in Sicily in 2011.
Personal Life and Legacy
Marcello Giordani met his wife, Wilma, in 1988 while he was singing in Lucerne, Switzerland. They got married two years later. They had two sons and lived in both New York and Sicily.
Marcello Giordani passed away from a heart attack at his home in Augusta on October 5, 2019. He was 56 years old. He is remembered as one of the leading tenors of his time, known for his powerful voice and dedication to opera.
Operatic Repertoire
Marcello Giordani performed many different roles in operas by famous composers. Here are some of the operas he sang in:
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Discography
Marcello Giordani also made many recordings of his opera performances and solo albums. Here are some of them:
- La bohème (Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, Elena Mosuc, Marcello Giordani, Michael Volle, Cheyne Davidson, László Polgár; Opernhaus Zürich Orchestra and Chorus; Franz Welser-Möst, conductor). Label: EMI Classics (DVD)
- La Gioconda (Lucia Mazzaria, Marcello Giordani, Alberto Mastromarino, Julia Gertseva, Lidia Tirendi, Michael Ryssov, Andrea Cortese, Valerio Saggi; Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania Orchestra, Chorus, and Corps de Ballet; Donato Renzetti, conductor). Label: Kikko Classics (DVD)
- Madama Butterfly (Fiorenza Cedolins, Francesca Franci, Marcello Giordani, Juan Pons, Carlo Bosi; Arena di Verona Orchestra and Chorus; Daniel Oren, conductor). Label: TDK (DVD)
- Manon Lescaut (Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani, Dwayne Croft, Dale Travis; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus; James Levine, conductor). Label: EMI Classics (DVD)
- Steven Mercurio: Many Voices (Andrea Bocelli, Marcello Giordani, Rolando Villazón, Sumi Jo, and Gino Quilico; Prague Philharmonic Orchestra; Steven Mercurio, conductor). Label: Sony/BMG (CD)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream – Soundtrack (Marcello Giordani, Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Roberto Alagna) Label: Decca (CD)
- Sicilia Bella (Marcello Giordani, tenor; Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania Orchestra; Steven Mercurio, conductor). Label: VAI (CD)
- Tenor Arias (Marcello Giordani, tenor; Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania Orchestra; Steven Mercurio, conductor). Label: Naxos (CD)
- Verdi: Jérusalem (Marcello Giordani, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Marina Mescheriakova; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; Fabio Luisi, conductor). Label: Universal/Philips (CD)
- Viva Verdi A 100th Anniversary Celebration (Compilation – various artists). Label: Decca (CD)
See also
In Spanish: Marcello Giordani para niños
