Marco Berti

Marco Berti is a singer whose significant vocal qualities characterise the classic Italian heavy lyric/dramatic tenor. The colours in his voice range from the soft-toned to the penetrating, powerful and effortless top notes. His richness of expressive harmonies has led to his being regarded as one of the most interesting vocal talents from Italy.

It was with the Teatro alla Scala that Marco Berti began his outstanding career. He took part in an array of performances including Lucia di Lammermoor, Beatrice di Tenda, La bohème, La rondine and Macbeth. However, his international reputation was established through his remarkable performance as Macbeth"s adversary, Macduff, in Luc Bondy"s production at the Edinburgh Festival in 1999. He made his Covent Garden debut in Simon Boccanegra and was immediately invited to return for a new production of Madama Butterfly conducted by the house music director, Antonio Pappano. Since then, also at Covent Garden, he made his role debut as Manrico in Il Trovatore and has since returned to reprise his acclaimed performance as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly.

He has been the highlight of the summer festival at Arena di Verona for many years. In accord with his distinguished achievements elsewhere he has delivered memorable performances in Verona time and time again in a variety of roles, including: Ismaele in Nabucco, Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera, Don José in Carmen (released on DVD) and Manrico in Il Trovatore. He opened the festival last summer in a new production of La Gioconda, making his debut in the role (soon to be released on DVD). He sings Radames for the first time at the Arena this summer.

Another landmark in his career was making his Met debut two seasons ago in Madama Butterfly, conducted by Placido Domingo. Maestro Domingo was enraptured by his outstanding performance and as the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Opera he has invited him to perform in La Bohème last season. They will be collaborating again next year when he sings Cavaradossi at the Vienna State Opera under Maestro Domingo"s direction.

Mr Berti made his debut in China in December at a prestigious New Year Concert at the Great Hall of People in Beijing to a 6,000 strong crowd which was broadcast on national television.

He recently made his role debut as Verdi"s Ernani, opening the Verdi festival at Teatro Regio in Parma. Last September he appeared in the Opening Gala at the Metropolitan Opera, New York in Act II of Tosca alongside Angela Gheorghiu and Bryn Terfel. His future engagements include a televised gala concert at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto in September follow by a concert tour of Japan, Simon Boccanegra to open the Houston Grand Opera"s 2006/2007 season where he will also return for Aïda, a new production of Carmen at Covent Garden, his debut at San Francisco Opera also in Carmen, Aïda, Ballo and a new production of Macbeth at the Metropolitan Opera, a debut in Adriana Lecouvreur in Florence, Aïda and Turandot at the Liceu in Barcelona. He gave acclaimed debut performances as Don Carlo at the Megaron in Athens in May.

His first solo album of Rare Versimo, a compilation of arias by composers such as Leoncavallo, Catalani, Franchetti and Zandonai is scheduled for release in January 2007.

Marco Berti was the recipient of the 2005 Giuseppe Verdi Gold Medal.

marco-berti.com