Simone Piazzola
THE PRESIDENT
BARITONE
Biography
Simone Piazzola is today one of the most highly regarded Italian baritones on the international scene, a performer of extraordinary intensity and a profound connoisseur of the Verdi repertoire. Trained from a young age, he has established himself in major international competitions—including the "Marie Kraja" and the "Comunità Europea" Competition at the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto—and has won prestigious recognition at Operalia, the competition founded by Plácido Domingo, where he won Second Prize and the Audience Award. His career has taken him to the world's most important theaters, including La Scala, the Vienna State Opera, the Teatro Real in Madrid, and the Royal Opera House. Among his iconic roles is Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, which he has performed over 180 times on major international stages, alongside great Verdi characters such as Simon Boccanegra, Rodrigo, Renato, Conte di Luna, and Iago. In 2012, he sang at the Italian Senate Christmas Concert conducted by Riccardo Muti, while in 2020, he headlined the reopening concert of La Scala, an event that symbolized the cultural revival after the pandemic. An artist of rare musical sensitivity and extensive international experience, Simone Piazzola brings to the jury not only the prestige of a distinguished career, but also the authority, listening ability, and expertise of someone who experiences the stage at the highest levels every day.
Marco Zelaya
DIRECTOR OF ZELAYA ARTISTS MANAGEMENT
Biography
Marco Zelaya, with a Master's degree in Opera Singing from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and a Master's degree in Vocal Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Mons, was a singer before becoming an artist manager.
In 2022, he founded Zelaya Artists, leveraging his over twenty years of stage experience and in-depth knowledge of the operatic repertoire to develop young talents and support internationally renowned artists.
Based in Brussels and Dijon, Zelaya Artists' strategy is to develop an international network that includes opera houses and orchestras across Europe and on every continent, as well as a strong social media presence.
An agency that keeps pace with the times, always striving for excellence.
Davide Dellisanti
PIANIST
CONCERT MASTER
CONDUCTOR
Biography
He trained under the guidance of Masters D. Panaro and E. Arciuli in piano, and in orchestral conducting with Maestro Mariano Patti. He also studied opera singing, an experience that has led him to become a pianist and assistant to some of the greatest opera singers, including R. Gimenez, V. Terranova, I. Salazar, Aprile Millo, S. Bonfadelli, A. Morelli, G. Giacomini, P. Domingo, N. Martinucci, M. Dragoni, M. Devia, J. Aragall, L. Canonici, V. Grigolo, and B. Praticò. He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as L. Bacalov, M. Arena, R. Bonynge, E. Morricone, and many others.
Among his most significant appointments, he is the Artistic Director of the Taormina Opera Stars Festival at the Ancient Theater of Taormina, Choir Director and Vocal Coach at the Cairo Opera House, Musical Director of the Teatro de Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), and Korrepetitor at the Ankara State Theater (Turkey).
His accolades include the Taras Pax Award, the G. Paisiello Award, the 2016 Maison des Artistes Gold Medal at La Sapienza University in Rome (awarded alongside Ennio Morricone), and the President of the Republic Prize in 2012.
Maestro Dellisanti has performed over 1,500 concerts across Europe, Japan, China, Korea, Africa, America, Egypt, and Brazil. He has performed for the President of the Italian Republic and for Pope Francis at St. Peter's in Rome in 2017.
His career has taken him to prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including:
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Teatro S. Carlo (Naples), Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Grande di Brescia, Teatro Donizetti di Bergamo, and Sala Scarlatti (Naples).
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The Royal Palace of Bucharest, the Ancient Theater of Taormina, the Cairo Opera House, and the State Theaters of Ankara, Istanbul, Seoul, Curitiba, and Florianopolis (Brazil).
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The Leverkusen Philharmonic and the Kurtheater of Wildbad (Germany).
Since 2016, he has worked as a pianist for the Italian TV network Canale 5, performing with major pop artists such as Antonella Ruggiero and Alessandra Amoroso. He has also participated in the world tours of Il Volo, Le Div4s, and the Venezuelan group "Ancora."
In March 2018, he was invited to conduct the choir for Aida performed at the Giza Pyramids in Cairo. In September 2018, he was appointed Honorary Professor at Changwon International University, as well as the Kaywon High School of Arts and the Sunhwa Art School in Seoul (South Korea). In China, he teaches at Liaoning University in Dalian.
Recent highlights include:
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2019: Appointed Artistic Director of the Taranto Opera Festival; Choir Master of the "V. Bellini" Choir for the Sferisterio di Macerata/Teatro delle Muse productions; and Artistic Director of the 1st Caput Mundi International Competition in Rome.
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Late 2019: Conducted the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra in Moscow and Athens, performing with tenor Jose Cura at the Olympic Hall in Athens for 6,200 people. He was also named Honorary Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
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2020: Appointed Artistic and Musical Director of the record label Kicco Musik (Milan) and received the Enrico Caruso Career Achievement Award.
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2021: Awarded the Thomas Schippers Prize for orchestral conducting and appointed Artistic Director of the inaugural Varenna Opera Festival on Lake Como.
Irma Irene Tortora
SOPRANO
Biography
The versatility of her voice has stood out since she was very young, attracting the attention of international opera critics. She holds degrees in Opera Singing, Music Education, and Modern Literature with a focus on Psychopedagogy, and a Master's Degree in Artistic Vocology from the University of Bologna.
He has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras in various countries around the world: Canada, USA, Russia, France, Ukraine, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy.
For years he has carried out an intense teaching activity, having held the role of Full Professor of Opera Singing since 2001, alternating the roles of Department coordinator and member of the Academic Senate, at the "G. Martucci" Conservatory of Salerno.
Philip Morace
BASS & BARITONE
Biography
Born in Naples, he graduated with honors in singing from the Salerno Conservatory under Maestro Pina Schettino. He subsequently perfected his skills with Rolando Panerai and Shermann Lowe.
He began his artistic career at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, participating in productions directed and curated by Maestro Roberto De Simone, including Donizetti's "Le convenienze e inconvenienze teatrali", Stravinsky's "The 99 misfortunes of Pulcinella" and Pergolesi's "Livietta e Tracollo".
Winner of numerous national and international competitions, in 1999 he won first prize at the "G. Belli" Competition in Spoleto, where he attended advanced courses with Nicola De Carolis and Renato Bruson. There, he made his debut in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and Verdi's "Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio" in the title role.
During his career he has interpreted numerous roles in the operatic repertoire in important Italian and international theatres, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Teatro
Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Sferisterio in Macerata, Stadttheater in Klagenfurt, and other European theaters. Among his most notable roles are Bartolo and Basilio in "The Barber of Seville," Don Magnifico in "La Cenerentola," Dulcamara in "L'elisir d'amore," Figaro in "The Marriage of Figaro," Shaunard in "La Bohème," Prosdocimo in "The Turk in Italy," Haly in "The Italian Girl in Algiers," and Don Alfonso in "Così fan tutte."
He has participated in internationally renowned productions, collaborating with world-renowned conductors and directors, including Placido Domingo, Daniel Gatti, Renato Palumbo, Fabio Biondi, and Franco Zeffirelli. He has also been featured in events broadcast worldwide, such as the inauguration of the Rome Opera House alongside Luciano Pavarotti.
His artistic career includes numerous opera productions, concerts, and international festivals, as well as over seventy audio and video recordings. Recent engagements include productions at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the National Theatre in Tokyo.
Mara Naddei
SOPRANO
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Biography
She graduated with honors in singing under the guidance of Maestro Marika Rizzo, former professor of singing and performing arts at the "San Pietro a Majella" Conservatory in Naples, and subsequently perfected her studies in Rome with Maestro Anna Panni. She has performed extensively as a soloist and as a member of chamber vocal groups for opera houses and musical institutions, in numerous Italian theaters, as well as directing musical associations and ensembles.
A member of the jury and president of national and international opera competitions, she has developed such a profound understanding of operatic vocal technique that, thanks to the uniqueness and widespread acclaim of her school, she has become recognized as a leading teaching institution in the field. Her school has produced students embarked on solo careers, performing in prestigious Italian and international theaters, or already performing in the choirs of important theaters, including the Teatro "Verdi" in Salerno, the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Teatro Regio in Turin, and the Choir of the Sistine Chapel Choir. Others have already won national and international competitions, promising promising talents in the operatic world. His students include, among others, the tenor Roberto De Biasio, the tenor David Fruci Esteban, the baritone Andrea Carnevale and the soprano Rosa Feola who have performed in prestigious opera houses (including: La Scala in Milan, the Fenice in Venice, the Arena di Verona, the Metropolitan Opera Carnegie Hall in New York, Millennium Park, Openhaus Zurich, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bayerische Staatsoper) under the guidance of the most authoritative conductors, such as Bruno Campanella, Antonio Pappano, Riccardo Muti, Placido Domingo, Lorin Maazel.
Andrea Carnevale
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Biography
Born in Aversa, he began his studies with soprano Rina De Tata and maestros Mara Naddei and Davide Dellisanti, with whom he continues to perfect his skills today. Previously, he enriched his artistic experience by attending important masterclasses with Maestro Baritone Bruno Pratico, Maestro Soprano Mariella Devia, and Maestro Mezzosoprano Gail Gilmore. His artistic career began at age 23 at the "Coccia" theater in Novara, the "Donizetti" theater in Bergamo, and the "Sociale" theater in Mantua, where, from 2004 to 2009, he performed soloist and supporting roles. In 2010, he made his debut in the role of "Don Giovanni," in W.A. Mozart's opera, at the Teatro Pagani in Monterubbiano (Florence). In 2011, he performed the role of Amonasro in Verdi's Aida several times near Lake Bracciano (Rome), and the role of Rigoletto at the "Fine Summer Opera Gala" in Pesaro. Between 2013 and 2016, he was called upon to perform many other roles: Germont in Verdi's Traviata, Patron Nicola in Maestro Fischetti's world premiere of "L'Aida di Scafati", Scarpia in Puccini's "Tosca", Tonio in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci", Escamillo in Bizet's "Carmen", Alfio in "Cavalleria Rusticana", Sharpless and Marcello in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" and "Bohème", having the opportunity to perform in some of the most important theaters of the Italian operatic tradition (Teatro di Corte in Naples, "Sala Teatro Petrolini" in Castel Gandolfo and many others). During the same period, he had an intense concert activity, participating in several musical events organized in honor of Niccolò Jommelli (“Jommelli 300 years after his birth” and “Jommelli: the rediscovered certificate”) and numerous opera galas in the “Palazzo Ducale” in Martina Franca and in Baronissi. In 2015, he performed in concert in Naples accompanied by the “Great Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra of Plovdiv”. In 2016, he was one of the soloists in Cimarosa's “Te Deum” in Aversa (CE) as a world premiere and in Mascagni's “Messa in Gloria” in Naples. Between 2016 and 2017, he performed Traviata again, at the “Teatro Antico di Cassino”, at the “Opera House” in Tel Aviv and the “Opera House” in Jerusalem and at the “Teatro Antico” in Taormina. During the same period, she performed Tosca, returning to the theaters of Cassino, Taormina, and the Stadio Domiziano in Rome, where she again played the title role in Rigoletto. In 2017 and 2018, she performed Aida again, at the Opera House of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and at the Opera House of Fuerteventura; Tosca in Tel Aviv's "Opera Hause Isdraele"; Traviata in Fuerteventura/Canary Islands; Trovatore in concert form in Martinafranca; and numerous recitals throughout Italy. During the same years, she was also one of the protagonists of the concert "Tre Tenori e Mezzo" in Manfredonia.
In addition to his intense artistic life, he continues to teach privately in Aversa (CE), boasting young students who have won numerous international competitions and opera artists involved in many Italian and foreign productions.
