Singer

Medea

San Carlo Theatre

This much sought-after, fascinating tenor is at home on the leading stages of the world. He’s a heroic tenor who started his career in bel canto and Rossini roles. Recent engagements have included Gabriele Adorno in Simon Boccanegra in London, Genoa and Vienna, Ernani and Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Riccardo Muti in Tokyo, Baden-Baden and the Salzburg Festival, Aida at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice and in concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Muti. He’s a regular guest at houses including the Semperoper in Dresden, La Scala Milan and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rome Opera, the Margitszigeti Színház in Budapest, Arena di Verona, Covent Garden and the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence. He went on tour to Tokyo with Verdi‘s La traviata before returning to open La Scala’s season, for the sixth time, last year, with Don Carlo. Francesco Meli’s appearing at Oper Frankfurt for the first time, in recital with his pianist Davide Cavalli.

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Francesco Meli (Tenor) & Davide Cavalli (Piano)

Oper Frankfurt

When Rossini died in 1868, Verdi suggested that Italy’s leading composers join forces to write a funeral mass. He himself contributed the concluding »Libera me«. However, the project was abandoned shortly before the premiere. Five years later, Verdi decided to write his own requiem, into which he incorporated the existing material. This work was not written for the church, but for the concert hall. Powerful emotions and dramatic contrasts combine to create a stream of deeply felt music that underscores the urgent message of the sacred texts: humility in the face of death and the hope of salvation to be gained through supplication.

6th Symphony Concert

Semperoper Dresden

The opera "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi is not only set in Egypt and premiered in Cairo, but throughout the history of its origin it is closely linked to the country on the Nile and its viceroy, the Khedive Ismael Pasha. How Verdi initially reacted to the request to compose the opera and how strongly the contemporary developments in Europe and Egypt influenced the work in addition to the interest in archeology, Johann Casimir Eule tells in the opera guide online.

Aida

In a hallmark of his partnership with the CSO, Riccardo Muti takes center stage to conduct selections from Verdi’s enthralling, passion-filled operas. The program also features a lineup of treasured Italian opera repertoire performed by internationally acclaimed singers and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

An Opera Night with Riccardo Muti

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Christmas Eve, 1871. In Cairo’s newly built opera house, the curtain rises on the premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida. This is a turning point in cultural history, when an occidental passion for exoticism and an oriental interest in European high culture come together to create great art. Very few works of opera have achieved such widespread popularity. And rightly so: with its thrilling musical effects, exotic sounds and tableaux, the colourful instrumentation and monumental scenes alternating with moments of great intimacy, Aida is a true musical and dramatic treasure trove. And that’s not all. Through the tragic love affair between the Ethiopian princess Aida and the Egyptian army commander Radamès, torn between the interests of state, church and family, Giuseppe Verdi reflects on the crisis-ridden plight of the modern individual, ending with a highly moving plea for the utopian power of love.

Tenor

Francesco Meli

Events

Upcoming events

3 - 16 Dec, 2025

Medea · Teatro di San Carlo

19 - 21 Mar, 2026

An Opera Night with Riccardo Muti · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

11 - 28 Jun, 2026

Aida · Semperoper Dresden

Past events

3 - 16 Dec, 2025

Medea · Teatro di San Carlo

Apr 8, 2025

Francesco Meli (Tenor) & Davide Cavalli (Piano) · Oper Frankfurt

Future and recently performed repertoire

Jason in Médée by Cherubini

Teatro di San Carlo

Radamès in Aida by Verdi

Semperoper Dresden

Singer in Messa da Requiem by Verdi

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Radamès in Aida by Verdi

Semperoper Dresden

About

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