Countertenor Carlo Vistoli Wins San Francisco Opera's Emerging Stars Competition

Vistoli, who made his San Francisco Opera debut this season in Handel's "Partenope," will receive a $10,000 cash prize

The Italian countertenor Carlo Vistoli has been named as the winner of the 2023/24 Emerging Stars Competition, run by the San Francisco Opera and sponsored by Maria Manetti Shrem and Jan Shrem. The winner is determined by online popular vote, and Vistoli will receive a cash prize of $10,000.

Vistoli made his San Francisco Opera debut during the 2023/24 season, in a surrealist Christopher Alden production of Handel's Partenope. He was selected for the award from a pool of twelve nominees.

Hailing originally from Torino, Italy, Carlo Vistoli was originally a guitarist and pianist, and first began his studies as a countertenor in 2007. In the 23/24 season, he sang Farnace in Mozart’s Mitridate in Berlin, as well as singing the title roles in Handel’s Giulio Cesare (with Cecilia Bartoli) and Rinaldo. His most recent recording is La Lucrezia with La Stagione and Paolo Zanzu for the La Música label.

The Emerging Star of the Year award is funded through a multi-year, multimillion-dollar gift. Past recipients of the award include sopranos Andriana Chuchman and Yaritza Véliz, baritone Lucas Meachem, and tenors Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Atalla Ayan.

"I am truly excited and honored to receive this recognition and prize sponsored by Maria Manetti Shrem and Jan Shrem, which comes as the culmination of the wonderful experience at San Francisco Opera with one of the productions I loved the most, Handel’s Partenope, also because it was shared with wonderful colleagues, whom I want to remember and thank, along with the fantastic theater staff," Vistoli said.

"Handel is probably my favorite composer, and in the part of Arsace I put all my heart, inspired by a brilliant director as Christopher Alden and an insightful conductor as Christopher Moulds," he added. "I had the time of my life at San Francisco Opera — I couldn’t have asked for a better American stage debut. Thanks to all who believed in me and voted for me, and also to the San Francisco audience — one of the warmest and most welcoming I’ve ever experienced, for whom I hope to perform again soon in the future."

"I am so happy for Carlo Vistoli to be the 2024 winner of the Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars award," said sponsor Maria Manetti Shrem. "We are glad that San Francisco Opera recognizes young talents and gives them opportunities including this competition where the audience can vote for their favorite emerging artists. As philanthropists we are delighted to support them to greater achievements. Carlo has such a presence and a unique voice honoring an Italian tradition. I wish him the best for a long-lasting career."