BRINGING OPERA TO LIFE
Francesco Izzo brings to opera a distinctive combination of scholarly insight and practical 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," he is dedicated to advancing understanding of Italian opera from Baroque to verismo, with particular emphasis on belcanto and Giuseppe Verdi.
He is deeply committed to mentoring a new generation of scholars and performers, while supporting and shaping the work of singers, conductors, and stage directors. His work has brought him into collaboration with leading artists such as Francesca Aspromonte, Leo Nucci, Lisette Oropesa, Michele Pertusi, Anna Pirozzi, and Riccardo Zanellato.
Working at the intersection of scholarship and performance, Francesco collaborates with world-class international artists, lectures and publishes extensively, leads workshops and masterclasses, prepares critical editions that underpin authoritative opera productions worldwide, and advises major opera companies, festivals, and higher education institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. His contributions have supported productions and initiatives at institutions such as the Royal Opera House, the Glyndebourne Festival, the Salzburg festival, the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Teatro Real, and the Teatro La Fenice, among others.
Francesco is Professor of Music at the University of Southampton, Program Director of the Accademia Verdiana (the young artists programme of the Teatro Regio di Parma), and General Editor of The Works of Giuseppe Verdi (University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi).