Franco Martorana
Tenor

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, which was located on Chicago’s North Side, 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. During this time while Lincoln Opera traveled to Germany, Franco received rave reviews for his appearance in Madama Butterfly in the role of Lt. Pinkerton. In the years that followed his departure from Lincoln Opera, Franco sang such roles as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme and Mario Cavaradossi in the same composer’s Tosca. Following additional studies at Oklahoma City University, Franco began his association with Lyric Opera of Chicago, taking his solo bow as the Messenger in Lyric’s 1993 production of Verdi’s Aida. In 1997, Franco was invited to sing at the Opera Theatre of Humbach, Bavaria, where he reprised 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. In July of 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 sang in concert at The Beverly Arts Center with The Other Three Tenors in December of 2005. On March 5, 2006 Franco sang in concert in Oak Park in the Village Players Theater’s “Night at the Opera”. In May 2006 Franco performed the role of Aflredo in La Traviata with soprano, Christine Steyer at the same theater. In July he performed during Chicago’s Venetian Night as well as the Milwaukee Italian Fest. Mr. Martorana recently performed the role of Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly to rave reviews at both the Village Players in Oak Park, IL as well as at the famous Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL for Bellissima Productions. In addition to these performances La Traviata was performed to a sold out audience in Three Oaks, Michigan at the Acorn Theatre.

Currently Mr. Martorana is preparing for the role of 'Michele' in "The Saint of Bleeker Street" by Gian Carlo Menotti for the Chamber Opera in Chicago. The show is to be performed October and November of 2007 and it will be directed by Francis Menotti and conducted by Victoria Bond.

Opera Repertoire

La Traviata: Alfredo, Verdi, Three Oaks, MI 2007
Madama Butterfly: Lt. Pinkerton, Puccini, St. Charles, IL 2007
Madama Butterfly: Lt. Pinkerton, Puccini, Oak Park, IL 2007
La Traviata: Alfredo, Verdi, St. Charles, IL 2007
La Traviata: Alfredo,Verdi, Oak Park, IL 2006
La Traviata: Alfredo,Verdi, Opera Oklahoma 1991
Die Fledermaus: Alfred, Strauss, Opera Oklahoma 1991
La Boheme: Rodolfo, Puccini, Opera Oklahoma 1990
Cavalleria Rusticana: Turiddu, Mascagni, Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1989
La Boheme: Rodolfo, Puccini, Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1989
Tosca: Cavaradossi, Puccini, Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1988
Madama Butterfly: Pinkerton, Puccini,Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1988
Die Fledermaus: Alfred, Strauss, Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1987
La Traviata: Alfredo,Verdi, Lincoln, Opera, Chicago 1986
Merry Widow, Camille, Lehar, Lincoln Opera, Chicago 1985

RECITAL / ORATORIO / ORCHESTRA
Italian Fest in Milwaukee, WI 2007
Milwaukee Fest in Milwaukee, WI 2007
La Travatta in Three Oaks, MI 2007
Franco and Friends Summer Song Fest 2006
Italian Fest in Milwaukee, WI 2006
Beloit College The Three Tenors Plus One Concert in Beloit WI 2005
Beverly Arts Center The Other Three Tenors Concert 2005
Italian Festival in Chicago, IL 2005
Belcanto Foundation 30th Anniversary Gala, Chicago, IL 2004
Italian Festival Opera Gala, Stone Park, IL 2003

Benefit for North Korea Refugees, Chicago, IL 2003
Benefit for Victims of Turkey Earthquake, Chicago, IL 2001

EDUCATION / OTHER TRAING PROGRAM
Opera Master Class with Inci Bashar, Chicago, IL 2005
Opera Summer Work Shop under Ubaldo Gardini, Poggio Renatico, Italy 2003
University of Oklahoma-B.M 1991
Opera Summer Work Shop under John Wustman, Oklahoma, OK 1990
Opera Master Class under Arrigo Pola, Chicago, IL 1987

TEACHER / COACHES / CONDUCTORS / DIRECTORS
Ed Zelnis, Connie Haas Inci Bashar, Bruno Bartoletti, Greta Benini, Ubaldo Gardini, Paul Kisgen, Carlos Montane,
Arrigo Pola, Lynn Schornick, Ken Smith, Norma Williams, Michael J. Wilson.