Andrea Bocelli has been called "the fourth tenor." A disciple of Luciano Pavarotti and Zucchero Fornaciari, the blind, Tuscany-born vocalist has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary opera. His participation in Pavarotti's 1992 hit "Miserere" and Fornaciari's 1993 world tour brought him international attention. Opera,... [+] Read More

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Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli was among the most popular figures in contemporary opera, wowing audiences and critics alike with her rich, gentle vocals and expressive three-and-a-half octave range. A native of Rome born June 4, 1966, Bartoli was the daughter of opera singers, and her mother, Silvana Bazzoni, was her first and only vocal... [+] Read More

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One of contemporary opera's most celebrated figures, José Carreras was perhaps best known for his association with the Three Tenors, a distinction he shared with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Born December 5, 1946, in the Spanish region of Catalonia, Carreras' gifts were recognized at a young age; as a child he sang along with the... [+] Read More

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One of the world's most renowned tenors, Placido Domingo -- along with his frequent collaborators Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras -- is largely responsible for the increasing mainstream popularity of opera among contemporary listeners. Born March 21, 1941 in Madrid, Spain, Domingo and his family relocated to Mexico in 1950; there he studied... [+] Read More

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Renowned among the greatest pianists of all time, Vladimir Horowitz was born on October 1, 1903 in the Ukraine. Despite receiving his first piano lessons from his mother Sophie at the age of five, he initially indicated little interest in performing, instead focusing his energies on composing; in 1912, however, he began studying at the Kiev... [+] Read More

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