By Simone Bandini
Opera singer turns internationally successful manager: Giorgio Trucco shares with Valley Life in this in-depth conversation intertwining art, business, and community. From cultural enhancement projects rooted in the local community to the desire to create a cultural bridge between Italy and the world — from Spain to Latin America, from Asia to Northern Europe. His agency representing opera artists (singers, directors, conductors, choreographers, costume designers), ‘Trucco Management’, offers numerous opportunities to artists, administrations, institutions and cultural associations.
Raised in Lombardy, he studied singing and pursued a career as a singer for over thirty years. He entered the conservatory at the age of 14, making his debut at 24 at the prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan, performing in Paisiello’s ‘Nina, or La pazza per amore’ under the direction of Maestro Riccardo Muti. From there he continued to perform until 2018: “It was an intense life filled with theatres, tours, festivals, and constant work both on stage and in the recording studio. Besides singing, I have always had an organizational side: I have directed three festivals in my area, I have managed a small theatre and I have also studied more ‘technical’ subjects such as administration, finance and marketing,” he tells us.
He has a dual identity, both as artist and manager: “The transition from singing to management was partly natural and partly accidental. Around 2016-2018 I collaborated with a Chinese promoter to bring opera productions from Italy to China, acting as the Italian liaison, handling negotiations with theatres, and managing the logistics. By doing so, I realized that I could combine my artistic experience with a professional organizational approach. Therefore, in 2020, with the formal launch of Trucco Management, I started working systematically as an agent, building contacts and an international presence strategy”.
The value that Giorgio, as an agent, retains from his artistic history is precisely the ability to: “Understand the sensitivity of an artist, his needs, his fear before the performance – and also know how to apply clear rules to make everything work. Putting rules on artists is not easy, but you have to know how to mediate between the needs of the artist and that of the organizers. When selecting an artist, I don’t only use the perspective of a manager, but also that of someone who has felt the emotions of the stage, of rehearsals, and tours. I know what it means to be anxious before a concert and I often act as a kind of psychological coach for my singers: breathing, mental tranquillity, ego management. I’m not a psychologist, but experience helps you understand how to put an artist at ease under pressure.”
Trucco Management works swiftly, as there is no time for delays in theatres. “Solving quickly is often the only possible way – he explains -. I have always had the ability to find the right artist at the right time, thanks to an up-to-date database and a network of real contacts.” It is an approach that goes hand in hand with great concreteness: he prefers action over talk, practical solutions over endless negotiations s. “Many colleagues can take hours to close a contract by telling stories; I, on the other hand, present clear and feasible proposals.”
At the base there is a deliberate selection: the choice to work with a limited number of artists per voice, to ensure attention and quality. The relationship with them is also personal but not exclusive: “We do not engage in strict exclusive management; I favor a ‘good exclusivity’ arrangement among professionals : the artist comes to us for the proposals and I filter, promote and negotiate for him.”
Finally, particular attention is paid to digital presence. “I use tools like OperaBase, social media, YouTube and I send a monthly newsletter with the updated list of artists. Communication is focused and ongoing.”
Trucco Management is therefore an agency with an international vocation: “We work in many areas of the world, such as Spain and Latin America, Asia, which I personally oversee including China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan ; then Central and Eastern Europe with Russia, Baltic countries such as Lithuania and Estonia, and we are gradually entering the Scandinavian countries. Some areas are more complex and take time to establish trust and procedures.” And Italy? “Of course, we operate throughout the Italian territory, with a predilection for projects that enhance the territory and local culture in an organic way. Our flexibility, the fact that we move quickly and with attention to detail, are factors appreciated by many theatres and producers. This allows us to be a true bridge linking international productions with the excellence of Italian opera heritage “.
Important projects such as “Nessun Dorma — Puccini 100”, on the occasion of the centenary of Turandot, are in progress: “The idea is to build a concert that traces Puccini’s works , starting from the ‘Liu’ aria — the aria that Puccini composed last — up to the first ‘historical’ arias. It is a musical journey that tells the compositional maturation of Puccini through voices and arias, with carefully selected guests and performers.”
Also noteworthy is the production “Ensemble le Muse – Estasi dell’Oro”, with music by Morricone, Nino Rota and Nicola Piovani, together with the proposal of the “Blue Quartet”.
This group features Fabio Curto (vocals), Fabrizio Fanini (guitar), Stefano Fanini (double bass) and Santo Rea (drums): musicians of great talent and with important awards, capable of ranging from Italian swing to international jazz , alternating sung and instrumental pieces.
Among the projects in development, there is also the creation of an international academy dedicated to opera singing: an intensive experience that will bring students and teachers of different backgrounds into dialogue, on a journey to discover the voice, language and soul of Italian opera.
The latest project of Trucco Management is “Vino e Lirica”,that combines opera with the food and wine tradition , with thematic events where music and cuisine meet: “From Rossini’s Table to gastronomic symphonies. I have already thought of formats where Rossini’s dishes create a journey through music and wine-making traditions. An example of how the work can be declined for the local public without losing artistic value”.
But now let’s come to the relationship with his elective city, Spoleto: “Although I am from Lombardy, I have developed an emotional and professional relationship with Umbria and with Spoleto. I have a house in Abruzzo and I feel very at ease in the Apennine region: I find a peace that helps me work better when I’m away for commitments. Spoleto has become a second home and a base for many activities. The city and the territory can benefit from people and agencies like mine – able to offer direct contact with the world of international opera. The message I would like to bring to local authorities, associations and cultural operators is simple: we can be a point of reference for those who want to organize quality events, balancing organizational practice with artistic content. We do not propose random names, but projects proportional to the context, with artists suitable for the scale and means of the event”.
Giorgio Trucco’s training and sensitivity have been marked by great voices and conductors: “I have always loved powerful voices à la Pavarotti and performers who have a natural and robust vocality. I had the honour of being conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti in some productions: an experience that I would define as ‘out of category’. Being part of that environment imparts a unique musical sensitivity, almost a gift for understanding the repertoire and the musical phrase”.
“My message to the organizers of theatres and musical seasons is this: “With our professionalism, speed and knowledge of the international scene we are able to propose artists consistent with the project, solve urgencies and assist in the scouting phase. Our approach is serious: we do not promise stellar names inappropriately, but we offer solutions adapted to the budget and artistic needs”, he specifies and continues: “While to the artists we say: if you are serious, professional and want to build a career, we can help you have real international contacts. We are not a factory of illusions; we ask for responsibility, , respond to communications, and show respect for commitments. If we work together, we do it to make you really work”.
During our conversation there was no shortage of lighter moments: memories of atypical performances such as singing in Lampedusa on a boat with friends, or the fact that after thirty years of career you sometimes miss the stage – or how desire can move away. Up to the self-deprecating image of singing in the shower, and the joyful reflection of how life in Umbria has made him ‘leaven’! These stories help us define the human dimension of manager Giorgio Trucco.
“The scene is not extinguished: it is a fire that remains inside” – he tells us inspired – “But professional life changes, and now I prefer to make my experience available to the territory and to the artists.”
Info: www.truccomanagement.com / trucco@truccomanagement.com / Tel (+39) 345 9532161 (Giorgio Trucco)