Juan Diego Flórez, Royal Albert Hall

With his mastery of technique and expressive range Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez belongs to a rarefied strata of singers. When it comes to the bel canto works of the early nineteenth century – the likes of Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini – he is every theatre's lead of choice. On the heels of his recent role debut in Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice in the Royal Opera House Autumn 2015 season, Flórez will return to London for a night of song in the Royal Albert Hall.

Born in Lima, 1973, Flórez found his voice singing Peruvian folk songs and writing pop; he used to take his own songs to piano bars around the city. Intending to continue in this vein through his teenage years, he enrolled at Lima’s Conservatory, where he soon discovered how well his voice suited opera. In 1996, he made his professional debuts in Pesaro and Milan, and in 2001 signed an exclusive deal with Decca. The decade and a half since has seen him become amongst the most feted singers in the world, with lead appearances in all the major opera houses. Although chiefly known for his bel canto work, he has also successfully branched out into other repertoire, and recorded albums of music from France and his native South America. The singer that will perform at the Royal Albert Hall is a man at the pinnacle of his career – a peak that only a handful can match.

Flórez’s performance will centre around works from his most recent solo LP, Italia. Focused on the Italian operatic repertoire that Flórez has so convincingly made his own, Italia gathers both aria highlights of of the bel canto – Rossini’s ‘Bolero’ and ‘La Danza’, Donizetti’s ‘Amor Marinaro’ – with popular later songs, including Leoncavallo’s ‘Mattinata’ and Tosti’s ‘Marechaire’. The set ends with the Neapolitan standard ‘O sole mio’, most famously performed by Pavarotti but lighter under Flórez’ bright voice. As on the record, Florez will be joined by the Filarmonica Gioachino Rossini Orchestra – specialists in the music of their native Italy. Christopher Franklin conducts in what will surely be one of 2016's most spectacular vocal concerts.