Vittorio Grigolo

Vittorio Grigolo
Vittorio Grigolo
Vittorio Grigolo
Background information
Born (1977-02-19) 19 February 1977 (age 47)
Arezzo, Italy
OccupationTenor
Years active1990–present
LabelsSony Classical
Websitewww.vittoriogrigolo.com

Vittorio Grigolo (correctly Vittorio Grigòlo, born 19 February 1977) is an Italian operatic tenor.

Early life

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Grigolo was born in Arezzo and raised in Rome. He began singing by the age of four. When he was nine years old he accompanied his mother to have her eyes tested and, hearing someone singing from another room, he spontaneously began his own rendition of "Ave Maria". The singer, the optician's father, was so impressed that he insisted Grigolo have an audition for the Sistine Chapel Choir as soon as possible. Young Vittorio was chosen to become part of Sistine Chapel Choir as a soloist.[1] He then studied for five years at the Schola Puerorum at the Sistine Chapel. At age 13 he played the Pastorello in a performance of Tosca at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma,[1] where he shared the stage with Luciano Pavarotti. He became the youngest man to perform in Milan's La Scala at age 23.[1]

Grigolo made his debut at the Royal Opera House in 2010 as Des Grieux in Manon, going on to sing Faust, the Duke in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La bohème, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, Werther, and Cavaradossi in Tosca.[2] In August 2013 he took part in the first “Concert de Paris” on the Champ de Mars, performing before more than 800,000 spectators.[1]

He made his role debut as Manrico in Il Trovatore in Barcelona in November 2021 and "commanded the stage".[3]

Allegations of inappropriate behavior

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In September 2019 Grigolo was dismissed firstly by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden on the grounds of inappropriate behavior during the Royal Opera's tour in Japan. His contracts with the Metropolitan Opera were subsequently also cancelled.[4]

Repertory

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Giuseppe Verdi: Don Carlo, I Due Foscari, Un Ballo in Maschera, Luisa Miller, Messa da Requiem, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Il Corsaro; Gaetano Donizetti: L´Elisir d’Amore, Don Sebastiano, La Favorita, Anna Bolena, Lucrezia Borgia & Lucia di Lammermoor Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly; Charles Gounod: Faust, Roméo et Juliette; Gioachino Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle, Stabat Mater; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Idomeneo, Così fan tutte; Jules Massenet: Werther, Manon; Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story; Jacques Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann;[5]

Awards

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The European Commission of the EU granted Grigolo and Romano Musumarra a European Border Breakers Award, along with the record company, authors and publishers, for recording the highest sales for a debut album in 2006 within the European Union, but outside of its country of production.[6]

Nominations

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Discography

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Albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[7]
FRA
[8]
GER
[9]
NL
[10]
UK
[11]
US
[12]
US
Class.

[13]
In the Hands of Love
  • Released: 13 March 2006
  • Label: Polydor Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
24 36 6 195 2
West Side Story
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Decca Records
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
Incognito
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
The Italian Tenor
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
101 88 2
Arrivederci
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
13
Ave Maria
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
18
The Romantic Hero
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Sony Classical
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
Verissimo Released 2024

Label: Sony Classical Formats: Digital Download

"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

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Title Year Album
"You Are My Miracle"
(featuring Nicole Scherzinger or Katherine Jenkins)
2006 In the Hands of Love

DVD

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Dreams of Rome

Recorded at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy. A live performance of tracks from his album, as well as a few additional pieces. The DVD was recorded specifically for the Great Performances series on PBS TV USA.

Grigolo plays Cassio in Giuseppe Verdi Otello recorded at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona 2006

Appearances

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Paris Opera biographical page for Vittorio Grigolo, accessed 15 May 2024.
  2. ^ Search in Royal Opera House database for Vittorio Grigolo accessed 15 May 2024.
  3. ^ Smith, Ken. Report from Barcelona. Opera, March 2023, Vol.74 No.3, p 306-307.
  4. ^ Cooper, Michael (5 December 2019). "Vittorio Grigolo, Star Tenor, Fired for 'Inappropriate' Behavior". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Vittorio Grigolo: Romantic hero who's proud to be a popera star". March 26, 2012.
  6. ^ "Bravura Style". December 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "Discography Vittorio Grigolo". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Discographie Vittorio Grigolo". lescharts.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Discographie Vittorio Grigolo". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Discografie Vittorio Grigolo". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ "VITTORIO GRIGOLO | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Vittorio Grigolo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Vittorio Grigolo Chart History (Classical Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  14. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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