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Pirgu, Saimir locked

Pirgu, Saimir locked

  • Zana Shuteriqi Prela

(b Elbasan, Albania, Sept 23, 1981). Albanian tenor . After earning the diploma in violin at 16 in Elbasan, he graduated in 2002 in singing from the Conservatory Claudio Monteverdi in Bolzano (Italy), where he studied with Vito Maria Brunetti. During his studies he met tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who helped him to perfect a number of roles in his repertory. He has been awarded a series of first prizes in lyric festivals, including the Caruso and Tito Schipa, both in 2002, which became determinant factors in the rise of his singing career. That same year he was invited by Claudio Abbado to sing the role of Ferrando in Così fan tutte in Ferrara, which he interpreted again two years later at the Salzburg Festival with Philippe Jordan conducting. In 2008 he was chosen by Woody Allen to sing in Los Angeles the role of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi. He has performed at a number of notable opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera (L’Elisir d’Amore), La Scala (Magic Flute), and the Metropolitan Opera (La traviata). With Gustav Kuhn he recorded his first album (Universal) in 2006.