BIOGRAPHY

Named by the critics among the Italian emerging artists of the baroque scene, Raffaele’s versatile and expressive voice embraces a repertoire that spans from the Recitar Cantando to the later operatic works of the XVIII Century.

Born in Italy, he started his studies in singing and organ when he was a chorister in Lodi Cathedral, from the age of six under Pietro Panzetti. He then continued his training in London with Colin Baldyand Nicholas Clapton, and in Bologna with Fernando Cordeiro Opa. He attended masterclasses with Sarah Walker, James Bowman, and Sonia Prina.

In 2009 he was chosen by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for the Monteverdi Apprenticeship Scheme, while in 2012 he was selected for the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh.

Raffaele collaborates with many leading conductors. These include, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Paul McCreesh, René Jacobs, Nicholas McGegan.

Recent highlights include, the lead male role of Delio in the world premiere of Cavalli’s Veremonda (Spoleto Festival USA), the role of Ottone in Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea in Tokyo, Leone Gasparini’sBajazet(Glossa 2015) for the Barga Opera Festival, and a recital debut for Deutschalnd Rundfunk at the Berlin Philharmonie withthe programme The Medici Castrato, his first unanimously acclaimed  solo recording for Glossa (see reviews).

Increasingly in demand on opera stages, among his future engagements Raffaele will sing Ottone in Monteverdi’s Poppea at Schwetzingen theatre, Spirit in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas at Teatro Filarmonico di Verona, Roberto in Vivaldi’s Griselda conducted by David Bates, and Santino in Leonardo Alarcon’s pasticcio Amore Siciliano.

This year will see also Raffaele returning to Arena di Verona conducted by Andrea Battistoni in Orff’s Carmina Burana and his appearance at Ravenna Festival and Festival MITO in Milan. 

Upcoming recording projects include the evangelist in the world première recording of Gaetano Veneziano’s Passione secondo San Giovanni for I Turchini di Toni Florio (Glossa).

Raffaele’s performances and recordings have been broadcasted by some of the major international radio stations and televisions, including BBC, MezzoTV, Culturebox, Radio France, RAI, RSI, ORF e Polskie Radio. He has recorded for  Glossa, Harmonia Mundi,Arcana, Resonus Classics, and ORF. 

The Medici Castrato, a Homage to Gualberto Magliwas released by Glossa in autumn 2014