After outstanding performances at Glyndebourne Festival in 2010, where his “seedy but superbly animated” performance as Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni was praised by press, the Italian Bass-Baritone Luca Piasroni returns to Glyndebourne for their new production of Rinaldo in the role of Argante, the King of Jerusalem.

Returning to Glyndebourne Festival for this new production is “an exciting new challenge”, says Pisaroni: 

“I am very much looking forward to my debut in this role. Argante is the Saracen King of Jerusalem plotting with Armida against Rinaldo. He is the classic anti-hero. One of the fascinating aspects of being a stage performer is that you are able to walk in someone else’s shoes for a couple of hours. I love to play the crazy, evil and broken characters… When asked if it’s more fun to play the good or the bad guy, I would definitely say the bad guy – in life you never get away with being the bad guy, but on stage, you do, and everyone loves it!”

Directed by Robert Carsen, conducted by Ottavio Dantone with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, this new production features a cast that also includes Sonia Prina, Anett Fritsch and Brenda Rae. The cast bring Rinaldo to the BBC Proms on August 25th for Glyndebourne’s annual appearance.

In addition to his run at Glyndebourne, Luca Pisaroni returns to the role of the seedy Leporello for three performances at the Baden-Baden Opera Gala in July, a role which won him critical acclaim during Glyndebourne Festival in 2010. Performing with an all-star cast including Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato and Rolando Villazón, the production will be recorded live for Deutsche Grammophon.

Pisaroni commands a diverse repertoire of operatic roles, and has appeared at many of the world’s leading opera houses and festivals. In addition to performing the role of Leporello in Paris, Glyndebourne, Tanglewood and now Baden-Baden, Pisaroni has also appeared in his signature role of Mozart’s Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival. 

In past seasons the Bass-Baritone has performed the roles of Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Tiridate in Handel’s Radamisto, The King of Scotland in Ariodante, Alidoro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and the title role in Cavalli’s Ercole armante, a production which was recorded for DVD by Opus Arte.

Born in Venezuela and raised in Italy, Luca Pisaroni now lives in Vienna with his wife Catherine and two dogs, Lenny (a golden retriever) and Tristan (a miniature dachshund).