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Giorgia Fumanti releases new album.

Photo courtesy Giorgia Fumanti

World famous Italian/Canadian soprano

By Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins

Published 11:48 PDT, Fri September 1, 2023

Last Updated: 11:52 PDT, Fri September 1, 2023

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Giorgia Furnanti is an Italian artist who was born in the medieval village of Fivizzano in Tuscany. She studied voice at the highly esteemed Music Conservatory of Parma, Italy. She has had many hit records and has worked with some of the biggest names in the world of classical music. Now based in Montreal, Canada, Soprano Giorgia Fumanti has performed all over the world with some of the most prestigious orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, and has participated in 3 PBS specials.

She works for many charities and orphanages around the world, and in 2019, Fumanti was appointed Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation, following a show in Central Park in New York to mark the International Day of Peace as declared by the United Nations. Her latest album, which is also her thirteenth album, is called Cinema Collections. This new album is comprised of much-filmed songs and signature theme songs from legendary composers like John Barry, Henry Mancini, and John Williams.

OCT: You are an incredibly talented singer, and Lang Lang, the famous Chinese virtuoso pianist, stated that you had one of the most beautiful voices in the world. You come from the world of opera, did you find it a challenge to blend the formal discipline world of opera with the loose and unstructured pop and folk genre?

GF: Actually, my path was very different. First of all, I didn’t want to be a singer. When I was a little girl, I discovered my voice in a church choir in Italy where I was born. I discovered the ability to hit the high notes like a soprano, so it was a natural thing for me. I just needed to work around my voice to find the style I wanted. It wasn’t that I studied to have a classical voice, it was just my natural sound. I worked many years with my parents in Italy and I worked with children. I also studied law because my parents wanted a normal job for me.

Finally, I found my heart and that was to sing, so I applied to the Conservatory of Music in Parma, Italy and I knew I needed to be free to express myself through my voice and through my instrument. It was not that easy in the beginning to try to be myself. Now after 13 albums, touring many countries, and singing with great orchestras and artists, it’s very clear what I want to do. I just want to sing beautiful music and touch everyone’s heart with my voice.

OCT: It is clear that you have a love and passion for the cinematic songs, and that comes through so well on your newest album. You studied at the Music Conservatory in Parma, Italy. You were born in Tuscany. It is natural that we have to ask, how did you end up in Montreal, Canada?

GF: When I was in Tuscany, I was studying law and I was finishing at the Conservatory of Music as well as working with children, but I also was studying yoga. At this time, I believed that I wanted to become a teacher of yoga. Finally, I recorded a demo for a very well-known singer in Italy, Zucchero Fornaciari, the composer of Miserere. He was the one who discovered Andrea Bocelli. So, I recorded a demo for him and this demo ended up in the hands of a producer in Canada and that’s why I ended up in Montreal.

I knew no French and no English with no family or friends just this big dream. That was 19 years ago, and it started from there. I signed with a company in New York and things moved forward and now thirteen albums later, Canada has become my first home. I am a Canadian citizen, and I married a Canadian. I still feel like a citizen of the world because I have the chance to sing for so many people all over the world, but I love Canada. Especially when I became a mom, I wanted to raise my kids in Canada and now I have four children.

OCT: We’re very lucky to have you in Canada. Now, despite your really busy career you still find time to devote energy to your favourite charitable organizations.

GF: My first dream as a little girl was to be a good social worker, a good lawyer, and even a missionary. I just wanted to save the world maybe because I needed to save myself. My life wasn’t always easy so that was my first passion but then I discovered my voice. At first, I thought that singing music was superficial but now I understand that I actually am able to give back through my music. So, I am very happy when music joins a good cause.

OCT: We wanted to mention again that the Universal Peace Foundation appointed you their ambassador for peace in 2019. You are very humble about all of the accolades you have received. Congratulations on the very beautiful album that you just released which is called, Cinema collection. A perfect album for the summer. We hope to see you soon in Vancouver on an upcoming tour. For more information: giorgiafumanti.com