Francesco Fortes

Born in Pozzuoli, he undertook his musical studies under the guidance of the baritone Sabatino Raia and Maestro Gianni Desideri, continuing then, his training with bass Danilo Rigosa and soprano Donata D'Annunzio Lombardi. He also participated in the masterclass of High Specialization of the Santa Cecilia Opera Studio with soprano Renata Scotto at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He is currently specializing with soprano Donata D'annunzio Lombardi.

He recently made his successful debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème by Puccini at Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Teatro Verdi in Pisa and Teatro del Giglio in Lucca and as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Teatro Pergolesi Spontini in Jesi, Teatro Comunale di Treviso and Ferrara's Teatro Comunale, Enrico Settebellizze in Nino Rota's Napoli milionaria staged at Lucca's Teatro del Giglio, Livorno's Goldoni and Pisa's Teatro Verdi with the direction by Fabio Sparvoli. In summer 2021 he debuted at the Macerata Festival in Aida (cover Radames, Messaggero), Canio (I Pagliacci R. Leoncavallo) Festival Midsummer Tagliacozzo).

Other engagements include especially Turandot (Calaf) at the Palazzo Farnese in Piacenza, Aida (Radames) at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Teatro Comunale in Treviso, Teatro Argentina, Teatro Quirino and Teatro Eliseo, in collaboration with the association Europa InCanto, an institution specializing in performances for schools.

He also has in his repertoire the roles of Alfredo Germont in La Traviata (Maratea), Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto (Salerno, Terni, Benevento, Auditorium "Umberto Zanotti Bianco" in Reggio Calabria), Don Flaminio del Sole in Cimarosa's La Finta Parigina (Trianon Theater in Naples), Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana (Trianon Theater in Naples).

In 2016 he participated in the tour "Italy, a dream" with tenor Vittorio Grigolo. In February 2015, he took part in a theater tour in Russia playing the role of Mario Pagano for the premiere of A. D'Alessandro's opera Luisa Sanfelice, performing as tenor soloist in Puccini's Messa di Gloria with conductor Valery Platanof (Ufa Opera Theater, Russia). In October 2012, he was a soloist in Vivaldi's Magnificat for solos, choir, and orchestra RV 610, organized by the Teatro San Carlo in Naples for the event "Il San Carlo nelle Chiese." He carries out intensè concert activity in Italy and abroad (Kiel, Zurich, London, Mindelo - Cape Verde).

He has been a winner in several singing competitions including second prize and special prize as best male voice "Luciano Pavarotti" at the 19th edition of the "Premio Lirico Internazionale Umberto Giordano" in Foggia, third prize at the 5th International Opera Competition "Voci dal Mediterraneo" in Syracuse, second prize at the 12th International Leopoldo Mugnone Competition "Città di Caserta" and First Prize overall at the 7th European Young Musicians Competition "Luigi Denza" - Castellammare di Stabia. He was also a finalist in the 2012 "Francesco Albanese" International Opera Singing Competition and the 4th "Giacomo Puccini International Competition" in Torre del Lago.