Tenor Juan Diego Flórez was born in Lima in 1973 and began singing Peruvian folk and pop music at a young age. He enrolled in Lima’s National Conservatory of Music at 17 and won a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia three years later. Flórez made his professional debut at the Rossini Opera Festival in 1996, stepping in last minute for the lead role in Matilde di Shabran. This success led to his debut at Teatro alla Scala at 23. He has since performed at major international opera houses, earning acclaim for both his bel canto repertoire and his performances of French Romantic heroes. His notable roles include appearances at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, and the Metropolitan Opera. A prolific recording artist, his recent albums include a disc of Mozart arias and Bésame mucho. He founded Sinfonía por el Perú in 2011, helping vulnerable children through music. Flórez has received numerous honors, including Peru’s Gran Cruz de la Orden El Sol.