Gianfranco Cecchele (Galliera Veneta 1938 - Galliera Veneta 2018)

As a boy, while interested in the hand, he is aiming to become boxer, but the opposition of his father prevented him to pursue this career. Passionately opera, his voice was appreciated by Maestro Marcello Del Monaco, who in 1962 began the serious study. After a few months of classes, in 1963, he won a competition organized by the Teatro Nuovo in Milan.

On March 5, 1964 he made his debut at the Teatro Bellini in Catania in The Zolfara Giuseppe Mule. In the following months he appeared at La Scala in Wagner's Rienzi alongside Giuseppe di Stefano; then in Rome and at La Fenice in Venice in Aida.

In 1965 he played at the Opera Norma Paris alongside Maria Callas and Giulietta Simionato, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
The vocal bursting soon conquered audiences around the world and Cecchele agreed to sing right away the most demanding works of Verdi and verismo repertoire; memorable films of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana produced by the Teatro alla Scala and directed by Karajan directed by Strehler.

In 1969, after repeated tonsillitis, he was forced surgery to remove tonsils, with the consequent interruption of the professional activity for 9 months. In the first five years of his career, between 1964 and 1969, he had carried out 269 performances.

The recovery was long and painful, rehabilitation of the voice organs requiring time and patience, but already in 1970 was able to resume the commitments and participate with great success to a beautiful cinematic edition of Turandot with Birgit Nilsson and Georges Pretre; then he resumed in full career facing increasingly challenging roles such as Otello in Bonn (1981); He has participated in numerous television programs, such as the series There is Luciano Berio's music and music and a voice in the West at Cinecittà, dedicated to him.
Gianfranco Cecchele hugs son Lorenzo after a concert
He continued his career until 2012 (Pagliacci the last work in the theater in 2006 as various concerts until 2012), for a total of 48 years of career and about 2,000 performances worldwide.

She has received many awards (Green Gold, Golden Viotti, Diapason, Melvin Jones), in particular two awards "Enrico Caruso", in Lastra a Signa (Florence) and Milan.

On August 2, 2017 in Verona he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Festival Scaligero Maria Callas.

The family has always been in first place in his life, since 1960, was joined in marriage to his wife Antonia with whom he had five children.

As he is often remembered not only the great artistic level, forthright character and lover of fairness and justice, as well as deep love of country; the famous battle fought for the establishment of a union of opera singers (Analpi) that would protect mainly the work of Italian singers, and the legal dispute with the Teatro alla Scala (Administration 1980) for breach of contract and defamation, which he won 100% after 12 years but he has "disturbed" greatly his career.

It was also a great benefactor and fervent believer, in 2006 he participated in Totus Tuus, First Concert in memory of Pope John Paul II at the Sanctuary of Loreto.

He died after a long illness in his native Galliera Veneta December 12, 2018

Photography autograph of the famous tenor in the opera house in Rome

Excellent condition