Francesco Izzo brings to the world of opera a unique range of experience and expertise. Praised by the legendary baritone Giuseppe Taddei as a pianist who "breathes with the singer", and recognised in The New York Times as the one who "keeps the [Festival Verdi]'s musicology current," Francesco is committed to developing and sharing knowledge and understanding of 19th-century Italian repertoire, training a new generation of scholars and performers and inspiring and informing the work of singers, conductors, and stage directors.
As a scholar, pianist, and coach, Francesco consults and performs with internationally renowned singers and conductors, lectures and publishes extensively, delivers workshops and masterclasses, prepares critical editions that form the basis of authoritative opera performances around the world, and advises leading opera companies and festivals in Europe and North America.
Francesco is Professor of Music at the University of Southampton. He serves as Direttore Scientifico of Festival Verdi Parma and as General Editor of The Works of Giuseppe Verdi (University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi).