Born in Taranto, the tenor Giovanni Coletta studied at the Conservatory of Monopoli under the guidance of Antonietta Cozzoli, and then undertook master-classes with L. Serra, A. Vandi, L. J. Whan, V. Terranova, K. Ricciarelli, R. Serenlli and C. Desderi. He also studied at the Academy of Teatro alla Scala under the guidance of C. Gaifa. In 2004 he won the Trotta Competition held at Castelnuovo della Daunia. In 2003 he sang in a production of Il barbiere di Siviglia by Paisiello sponsored by the Taranto provincial government, interpreting the role of Almaviva under the baton of L. Serra. In the same year he appeared in Handel's Messiah, with the Paisiello Orchestra of Taranto. In 2004 he sang Macheath in Kurt Weil's Threepenny Opera with the Jazz Studio Orchestra conducted by P. Lepore, and took part in the Italian Serenade recital at the Madrid theatre of Kansas City. In 2007 he appeared with the Ostia Chamber Orchestra conducted by R. Serenelli. In 2008 he sang in the première of F. Lotoro's Misha e i lupi, in Foggia, interpreting the rôle of Lupo Capo. From November 2007 to May 2008 he toured Italy with the Corrado Abbiati Operetta Company, appearing as Camillo and Rossillon in The Merry Widow, Prince Edwino in The Czardas Princess and Octave Flaubert in Eva.

JANUARY 2009