News Interview for Atlasorbis | Interview for Atlasorbis |
| Wednesday, 22 October 2008 | |
 Pubblichiamo l'intervista rilasciata da Francesco a Nicola Zichella per Atlasorbis, periodico di geopolitica, sicurezza e informazione.Tenor Francesco Malapena how would you like to be called? Tenor of Naples? Would you like to tell us how your passion for Opera was born? «"Tenor of Naples"? No! It sounds wrong! As if I would say.. Tenor of Milan or of any other city! I prefer to be called "Neapolitan Tenor". As far as my passion for the opera, I can say that it revealed itself very early in my life. Living in a family of actors, singers and musicians, whether professional or not, I was already on the stage when I was five years old as "little singer and actor" in different companies. At the tender age of four, I drew into my first instrument, the drums, and afterwards the piano, later on, being my father a luthier of string instruments, at the age of eleven I was initiated into violin and mandolin at the Conservatoire "San Pietro a Majella" in Naples. Then somebody noticed my "natural" and, I'd like to make it clear, suitable for the "Bel canto" voice, and I began to study with teachers of singing such as M° Mimmi Marchini, M° Carmen Lucchetti, M° Silvano Pagliuca, M° Renato Grimaldi. I work at present with M° William Matteuzzi. I must say that, during the long years of apprenticeship, I had the honor of working with Lina Sastri, Beppe Vessicchio and many more... I've been awarded the "Premio E. Caruso" in 2004, a prestigious prize that gave me the opportunity of performing at the Metropolitan Theatre in New York, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral and in several theatres in Broadway. Everything happened during "Columbus Day" and I sang the Italian national anthem accompanied by the "Fanfara dei Bersaglieri" (Italian military band, T.N.) in front of an audience made of Italian and international personalities and the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton». Which will be your next national and international music commitments? My first engagement will certainly be the worldwide release of my debut album with unpublished Neapolitan songs: the title of the album is "Francesco Malapena", it took me three years of intense work. The songs remind us the flavor of the unforgettable classics of 1900. The composer is the clever Roberto Bonaventura, who has been a friend of mine since almost twenty-five years, to whom go my warmest thanks and I ask all the readers to listen to these wonderful melodies in order to dive into the old Naples, a city full of emotions and passions and characterized by the popularity of a big and ancient eternal musical tradition. As a consequence, there'll be many promotional concerts in order to spread this masterpiece. For every other commitment I can only say that I'm working at two wonderful operas, but as a real Neapolitan I feel it would be unlucky even to talk about it!». Who has been the best tenor ever? «Without a shadow of a doubt the great Enrico Caruso, a Neapolitan tenor, therefore very close to my way of expressing feelings and my sensitivity. Then, there are many great tenors such as: Franco Corelli, Tito Schipa, Mario Del Monaco, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Alfredo Kraus, Placido Domingo, Josè Carreras and the unmistakable "silvery voice" par excellence, the crystal clear voice of the great Luciano Pavarotti. I would like to say that my fans think that my voice is similar to the legendary Maestro's.Defining "Big Luciano" is not easy! I can only say that he has been, the most esteemed in the world among all the Italian artists, and he has strengthened a magnificent and undoubted unique popularity with his social commitment with "Pavarotti & Friends" and other projects such as "The three Tenors"! A man and an artist who moved us and will do it again and again!». Which is the path to follow in order to become a tenor of international level? «That's not easy to do. Above all you must have unquestionable vocal qualities, then you must study assiduously and with great zeal, moreover you need to have a little bit of luck in meeting the right people, who will be able to take you to the front of the stage and, last but not least, the appraisal of the audience! The talent of moving who is listening to you is essential, the one thing I always say is that if I'm deeply moved I can touch other people, otherwise it would be better to change job. Don't you believe it too?». From which operas you draw your inspiration? «Being a violinist and a musician as well, I love all kind of music and operas, but of course I'm sentimentally attached to those that suit my vocal style, such as "La Bohème", "La Tosca", "La Traviata", "L'Elisir d'amore", "Lucia di Lammermoor", "Rigoletto", "Un ballo in maschera" and many more which need a kind of voice such as mine, which is defined, in a technical term, "opera tenor tending to leggero"». Have you ever performed in a opera? bring «Of course! My opera has been "La Bohème": I played the leading role of Rodolfo and it was realized in Stuttgart as second cast, where they told me: " We listened to the Italian ‘Bel Canto' at last", I was the only one Italian singer in the cast! It brought me emotions and a great satisfaction! The last opera I recently played in, performing the role of Alfredo, was "La Traviata", staged at the Teatro Dante Alighieri in Ravenna for the Ravenna Festival, directed by Mrs. Cristina Mazzavillani Muti, an extraordinary clever, qualified and sensitive woman. This kind of experience awfully enriched both the man and the artist Francesco Malapena».  What is that matters for
a tenor: showing off his image on television or, on the contrary,
highlighting his voice and being in direct contact with the audience?We know that the greatest tenors in history have hardly ever appeared on television. Do you think that television increases the image of an opera singer? «All that matters for a tenor is the talent of moving people, that is why it is really important being in direct contact with the audience, promptly checking its appraisal. I think that television doesn't magnify at all, but it has the task of spreading an emotion and not only a simple image!We cannot forget that, unlike the great tenors of the past, we live in a period strongly characterized by audiovisual messages, so that with the advent of satellite television it is possible to broadcast the images of a character at the same time all over the world». «Thanks to the readers and kindest regards to the staff of Atlasorbis». Francesco Malapena Photo: Nicola Zichella (Atlasorbis review) with Francesco. Translation by Giovanna Gallo |
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