Raffaele Pe

Described by The Times as a ‘baroque star’, a leading artist and tireless promoter of baroque culture, countertenor Raffaele Pe embraces a vast musical repertoire ranging from recitar cantando to contemporary opera.

In 2019, he was awarded the Abbiati Prize by Italian music critics for Best Album with Giulio Cesare. A Baroque Hero. The CD, which was chosen by The Times and Die Welt as one of the best recording projects of 2018, features arias dedicated to Julius Caesar in world premiere or modern premiere performances.

Raffaele Pe collaborates with leading conductors and directors such as Jordi Savall, John Eliot Gardiner, William Christie, Renè Jacobs, Giovanni Antonini, Robert Carsen, Graham Vick, Claus Guth, Pierluigi Pizzi and Damiano Michieletto.

In 2014, he founded La Lira di Orfeo, a collective of musicians, artists and researchers with whom he has made five recordings and whom he often conducts. Considered one of the most refined interpreters of Handel today, he has performed iconic roles from most of his operas, such as Julius Caesar, Rinaldo, Orlando, Serse, Nero, Arbace, Aci, Disinganno, at the invitation of some of the major theatres such as the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Opéra National du Rhin and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

He has also devoted himself to the music of Monteverdi, Cavalli and lesser-known composers of the late 17th century, often performing their works in modern-day premieres. These include Cavalli's Hipermestra at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, Melani's Empio Punito and Marazzoli's Amore Malato at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa, and Cavalli's Veremonda at the Spoleto Festival US.

He has always combined an intense theatrical activity with concert appearances in some of the most important international concert halls and symphonic institutions such as the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Philharmonie in Paris, the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona and Wigmore Hall in London. Lebanese pianist, composer and visual artist Zad Moultaka composed the opera Hémon specifically for his vocal characteristics. The new creation - based on Sophocles' Antigone - premiered at the Opéra du Rhin in Strasbourg in March 2021 with Raffaele Pe first in the baritone register and then in the soprano register.