The son of a singer and a pianist, he studied with several teachers, notably with Arrigo
Pola on the recommendation of Luciano Pavarotti, who was La Scola's mentor.
He appeared on stage for the first time in 1983 at the Regio in Parma as Ernesto. Further notable debuts:
- 1984: Théâtre de la Monnaie (L'elisir d'amore), Liège
- 1985: Kön, Kiel
- 1987: Paris Opéra-Comique (Gianni Schicchi), Teatro La Fenice (La fille du régiment), Torre del Lago
festival (Gianni Schicchi)
- 1988: Bologna (Le maschere), Torino, La Scala (L'elisir d'amore)
- 1990: Covent Garden (La bohème), Vienna Staatsoper (La traviata), Genova (La bohème), Sferisterio di
Macerata (La bohème)
- 1991: San Francisco (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Teatro San Carlo (Lucrezia Borgia), Rome (Rigoletto), Hamburg
- 1992: Arena di Verona
- 1993: Metropolitan Opera (La bohème)
- 1996: Salzburg Festival (Verdi's Requiem), Houston (La bohème), Washington (La bohème)
- 1997: Zürich (La traviata), Florence (L'elisir d'amore)
- 1998: Chicago (La bohème)
- 2000: Munich (Simon Boccanegra)
- 2001: Maggio musicale Fiorentino (Verdi's Requiem)
For a couple of years around 2000, he was a great favorite at the Teatro Massimo in his native Palermo, but then broke up
completely with a new theater management, never sang there again, and continued to make biting remarks about the Teatro
Massimo.
From 1994, he added more dramatic roles to his repertory, like Faust in Mefistofele, Don Carlo or even Pollione. He was
always praised for his excellent stage acting, by the way. He had already retired when dying all unexpectedly from a heart
attack while being in Turkey for a master class.
Reference 1: Kutsch & Riemens, reference 2,
reference 3, reference 4: La Repubblica, 16 April 2011
Picture source
