Juan Diego Flores - the famous Peruvian tenor, who gained worldwide fame and fame primarily as a performer of Rossini's parties. His voice is distinguished by lightness, grace and extraordinary flexibility, which puts the singer among the leading artists working in the repertoire of Belcanto.
Briefly about the biography
Juan Diego Flores was born in 1973. He is the son of a famous Peruvian guitarist and singer, who worked with famous performers of his time. The future tenor studied at a college in Lima, then was educated at the National Conservatory in Peru, went to Philadelphia, where he studied for three years. A solid education helped the future star to finally decide on her repertoire and place in the music world.
The fact is that at first Juan Diego Flores performed as a performer of Peruvian music. The singer admitted that he loves rock and roll, he composed songs and sang with a guitar. However, it soon became apparent that he had a unique opera voice. Already at the conservatory they began to entrust him with the performance of classical works. But the final turn towards the opera was made thanks to the training from another Peruvian tenor E. Palacio, who drew attention to the fact that he has a very rare type of voice.
Despite the rapid rise of his career, the singer is an exemplary family man. Juan Diego Flores, whose personal life is perhaps an example to follow, is married to the beautiful singer Julia Trapp, they have children. A happy and beautiful couple is often seen at concerts, performances, social parties.
Carier start
Since then, the singer began to engage in classics seriously. The first major breakthrough of the young performer on the world opera scene took place in 1996, when he performed the main male part in the opera Matilda di Shabran. Until now, this role remains one of the most iconic in his repertoire. This performance immediately brought him world fame. Leading theaters in the world, including the famous La Scala, hastened to conclude contracts with him, and soon his first album was released. Juan Diego Flores and his bewitching arias immediately became the standard of performance in belcanto style.
Repertoire Features
As a rule, it turns out that in operas, the leading performer is the tenor. Singers with this type of voice occupy a prominent place on the world opera stage. That is why the unique tenor of Flores immediately brought him great popularity. However, the singer’s repertoire may seem limited. The fact is that his soft gentle voice does not allow him to play the so-called heavy parts of Verdi, Puccini and other famous composers. But in the field of Belcanto, he is an unsurpassed performer. The most difficult coloratures and high notes are easily given to him. His repertoire is primarily lyrical and melodramatic parts, as the light and graceful tenor of Flores is not suitable for heavy dramatic roles. But in the image of sparkling characters or romantic heroes (Count Almaviva, Umberto, don Ramiro), the singer is a true master of vocal skills and acting.
Most famous roles
Flores works and collaborates with leading world opera stages: Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera. In addition, he performs at the La Scala Theater. It was within their walls that he presented to the general public his interpretation of famous heroes from operas of the famous Italian composers. Practice has shown that he is able to easily perform what other singers often could not do. One of the singer’s most iconic roles is the count’s part from the sparkling Seville Barber. The final aria of his hero is distinguished by complexity and virtuosity, coloratura passages are very spectacular, but very difficult to perform. This aria is very easy for tenor.
Another famous role of the singer is the part of the prince from the opera Cinderella. The title part of this character is also distinguished by virtuosity and unusual spectacular technique. In addition, duets, recitations, quartets also require great skill and remarkable talent. The above parts are roles from Rossini's operas. The singer is ideally suited for playing music from his works, since the voice of the Peruvian nightingale is flexible and has extraordinary mobility, which allows him to perfectly perform virtuoso coloratures and take the highest notes.
Party belcanto
In addition to these parties, we should also mention several other images created by the singer on stage. Very often, he happens to sing a magnificent part from the opera of the same composer “Lake Maiden”. Unlike the above roles, this role is not comedic, but melodramatic. This time, his arias are distinguished by sensuality and are filled with sadness. However, coloratura, roulades are no less spectacular and therefore also complex.
The Peruvian tenor often performs the parts and other composers of the Belcanto era: Donizetti and Bellini. These roles also require considerable skill in the performance: coloratura and high notes require filigree technique in the performance. It should be noted that the tenor worked with world opera stars in the performance of all these roles: D. di Donato, N. Dessey, E. Garancha and others. One of the most famous parts in this repertoire is the aria from the opera “Daughter of the Regiment”, in which he took all seven of the top “do” notes, which are very difficult to play and are often a stumbling block for many performers. Bellini’s repertoire, of course, should first of all name the part from the opera Somnambula, which still remains a cult on the world opera stage.
Other parties
The tenor does not remain within the framework of the Belkantian repertoire. He tries his hand in other genres of opera, but he does it very competently and carefully. So, recently he sang the title part in Romeo and Juliet (S. Gounod). Juan Diego Flores could afford it, because over the years his tenor has become more dense, which makes it possible to gradually switch to more difficult and dramatic parties.