"La Voce d' oro"- A Golden Voice
James King

A native of Geneva, Switzerland, Franco Martorana was born to be an opera singer. The son of a Sicilian tenor, Franco spent his formative years surrounded by the recordings of the great tenors of the past.

As a young boy, his parents brought him to the United States, where he received his education. After discovering his voice as a teen, Franco knew he wanted to pursue the career of an opera singer.

Following a few years of vocal training, as well as a number of concerts and recitals, the young tenor made his operatic stage debut with the Lincoln Opera Company as Alfredo in a production of Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.

During his years with Lincoln Opera Franco essayed such roles as Camille de Rossillin in the Merry Widow, Alfredo in La Traviata, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana.

In 2003 Franco studied in Poggio Renatico with the
well- known opera coach, Ubaldo Gardini, who said that Franco’s interpretations of Tosti’s songs were second only to Bergonzi’s.

"Franco is one of the few tenors in the world who can interpret the songs of Francesco Paolo Tosti
and Neapolitan songs well."
Ubaldo Gardini

Franco has sung such roles as: Rodolfo, in Puccini’s La Boheme; Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca; The Messenger in Verdi’s Aida, and two of his favorite roles- Alfredo in La Traviata and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana.

In addition to his busy stage career, this golden voiced tenor has sung with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra and has enjoyed appearing as both a musical artist and a panel guest on numerous radio and television programs in the Chicago area.

Currently Franco is based out of North Chicago and his voice is being heard around the world.