Leo Nucci

BIOGRAPHY

Leo Nucci was born in Castiglione dei Pepoli, Bologna, on April 16, 1942. He is married to soprano Adriana Anelli, with whom he has a daughter called Cinzia.

• 1984 was awarded "Ambrogino d´oro of Milano"
• 1992 appointed Grande Ufficiale of the Republic of Italy
• 1996 appointed Kammersänger at the Vienna State Opera
• 1995 appointed Honorary academic of the Reale Filarmonica Academy in Bologna
• 1997 appointed "Medalla de Santiago" in Chile
• 2000 Opera Award for best baritone for his performance in "Il Trovatore" at the Teatro alla Scala
• 2000 appointed Goodwill Ambassadors UNICEF per l'Italia
• 2002 appointed "Chevalier de l´Ordre des Arts ed Lettres" from the Ministre de la Culture et de la Communication of the Republic of France
• 2004 appointed honorary member of the Vienna State Opera and given the "Ehrenring"
• 2004 was awarded "Fanfullino d´oro-lodi"
• 2004 was awarded 24^th "Premio Caruso"

In 1965,1966, Nucci won singing competitions and a scholarship E.N.A.L.

In 1967, he won the "A. Belli" competition at Spoleto, where he made his debut in the role of Figaro in "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" by G. Rossini.

In 1973, he won the Concorso Internazionale Viotti di Vercelli (first absolute winner)

Nomination:

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the Best Opera Recording (WITH)

He commenced his singing studies in 1957 with Maestro Mario Bigazzi and later studied in Bologna with Maestro Giuseppe Marchesi, with whom he made his debut in the role of Figaro in Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" in 1967, a part which won him the A.Belli competition in Spoleto. In Milan, he met Maestro Ottaviano Bizzarri, who led him to make his debut in the role of Rigoletto in 1973, a part which – together with that of Figaro in "Il barbiere di Siviglia" - was to become one of his most overwhelming successes. In 1977, he sang the part of Figaro at the Teatro alla Scala for the first time: The success was such that the theatre offered him an engagement, which has, more or less without interruptions, lasted until this day. He also produced a number of important recordings (some of the most outstanding ones are those related to the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Verdi's death: 2000 Opening with "il Trovatore"; 2001 "Rigoletto", "Macbeth" and the opening with "Otello"). His international career began in London in 1978, when at the last minute Nucci had to stand in for an indisposed colleague in Verdi's "Luisa Miller". His triumphant success opened up the doors of the largest and most famous theatres in the world.

At the "Metropolitan Opera" in New York he made his debut in 1980 with Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera ". The triumph of this production was from now on to be part of each and every one his seasons. At the Met, Nucci also produced records and videos.

In 1979, he made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in the part of Figaro, and this opera house was also to become hugely important for his career. He has produced more than 40 official records and videos with some of the most important record companies. For ten years he was exclusively with Decca, a position that had previously been held by Bastianini. He has acted in two films, Macbeth as presented at the Festival di Cannes and a version of the Barbiere di Siviglia. He has produced records with some of the most famous conductors of our time.

H. von Karajan, Sir G. Solti, C.M. Giulini, R. Muti, C. Abbado, J. Levine, Z. Mehta, L. Maazel, R. Chailly, Sìr J. Pritchard, G. Patanè, B. Bartoletti, N. Santi, M. Viotti and others.