Manuel Fuentes blends the art of singing with a deep repertoire and formal musical training, collaborating closely with tenor Jose Semper. He emerged as a prominent figure after winning multiple accolades at renowned international competitions. In 2019, he was crowned champion at the I Alicante International Lyrics Competition, earning the First Prize, the Audience Award, and the Best Spanish Singer Award at the VII Alfredo Kraus International Voice Competition. The following year, he received the Placido Domingo Award for the best Spanish singer at the Viñas Tenor International Singing Competition and captured the Castell de Peralada Festival Prize as well as the Fundació Ferrer i Salat Prize, underscoring his rising status in the vocal world.
Fuentes made his zarzuela debut in 2020, in a production linked to the zarzuela theater circuit in Madrid. His first opera role was Ferrando in Il Trovatore at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Opera House. He subsequently reprised this performance at the Teatre Principal in Palma. His repertoire expanded to include a variety of demanding roles in the operatic canon, such as Sir Giorgio Valton in I Puritani, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Cholina in La boheme, Raimondo Bidebent in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Sam in Un ballo in maschera, performances that showcased his versatility across major theaters in Spain and beyond.
In a parallel development, Giorgio Celenza has balanced a pianist’s repertoire with the singer’s artistic journey since the outset of his professional career. He has been a regular collaborator at the Luis D’Annunzio Conservatory in Pescara, supporting instruction led by Antonella Muscente. Celenza has also worked as a repertory pianist at the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento per Cantanti of the Teatro Marrucino in Chieti, Italy, where he collaborated with notable talents and contributed to a rigorous training environment for emerging artists. The partnership has enriched both performers, blending piano refinement with vocal expressiveness to broaden the expressive range of their concerts and productions.
As a singer, Fuentes has built a substantial career and collected several prestigious recognitions. He won the XVII Mirna Lacambra Competition for his portrayal of Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, followed by a debut at the Teatro de Farándula in Sabadell. In the same year, he advanced to the final rounds of the Antonio Cesti International Baroque Opera Singing Competition in Innsbruck, a competition that included appearances at the Concorso di Basciano and directions by maestro David Bates with stage direction by Stefano Vizioli. These experiences highlighted his capability to perform across genres and historical periods, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most versatile and compelling voices of his generation.