About Emmanuel

Mexican-Dutch baritone Emmanuel Franco has been celebrated as a complete artist, with outstanding acting skills and a bright voice for Bel Canto repertoire.

Franco recently he made his debut  at Ópera de Oviedo in the title role of Gianni Schicchi and Michele in Il Tabarro by Giacomo Puccini.

Last season he made an outstanding impression on his debut at Teatro Filarmonico di Verona, as Germano in La Scala di Seta, as well at Fondazione Teatro Coccia in Novara as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with maestro Christopher Franklin, and as Dandini in La Cenerentola, under the baton of maestro Antonino Fogliani.

He was part of Wexford Festival Opera (2019) in Ireland, as Mustafa in Adina by G. Rossini, and as Camillo in the world premier of La Cucina by Andrew Synnott.

Emmanuel has become a regular guest artist at the Rossini in Wildbad Bel Canto Opera Festival in Bad Wildbad, Germany, where he has performed in several productions as Il Barone Macacco in I Tre Gobbi, the Gran Sacerdote in Zelmira, Albertone in Romilda e Costanza, the Sergent Joli-Coeur in Le Philtre, Buralicchio in L’Equivoco Stravagante, Aliprando in Matilde di Shabran, il Califo in Adina and the title role Bruschino Padre in Il Signor Bruschino, in collaboration with Operavision. 

He has collaborated with NAXOS Music Records for the recording of several titles, working with renowned conductors like Luciano Acocella, José Miguel Pérez-Sierra and Gianluigi Gelmetti.

In Pamplona, Spain, he has performed as Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore with AGAO Fundación Baluarte.

He made his German debut at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, performing Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro, with the Badische Staatskapelle.

Emmanuel was a member of the Opera Studio from Opéra national du Rhin (2015-17) in Strasbourg, France. Some highlights during his time in Strasbourg include his performances as Le Marchand Ambulant and the Dwarf Pic in Blanche-Neige, Der Zweiter Nazarener in Salome, Bruschino Padre in Il Signor Bruschino, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia by G. Paisiello and Le Fou in the new production of Cendrillon. He also performed as the Gran Sacerdote in Idomeneo, Slook in La Cambiale di Matrimonio and one of the Deputati Fiamminghi in Robert Carsen’s new production of Don Carlo, under the baton of Daniele Callegari.

In Mexico, Emmanuel has performed as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia by G. Rossini, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Tijuana Opera Company, Don Parmenione in L’Ocassione fa il ladro with ProOpera, and Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore with Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México.

Career highlights in the United States include his performances as Ping in Turandot and Manuel in La Vida Breve with West Bay Opera, and Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly with Livermore Valley Opera.

Emmanuel’s concert and oratorio repertoire include works like Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen by G. Mahler, Carmina Burana by C. Orff, Weihnachtsoratorium by J. S. Bach, Requiem and Krönungsmesse by W. A. Mozart, and Misa Tango by Luis Bakalov.

Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Emmanuel received his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and his Master’s degree from the Dutch National Opera Academy.