Ferruccio Furlanetto was born on May 16, 1949 in Italy. Originally he studied classical philology and natural science, but at the age of 22, he decided to pursue singing and musical studies instead.

He made his professional debut in 1974. Some sources list the role as Colline in Puccini’s La Boheme in Triest; others as Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto in Lonigo.

In 1977 he won a singing competition (and the title role of Don Giovanni) in Treviso. His United States debut took place the following year in New Orleans, where he sang Zaccaria in Verdi’s Nabucco. In 1979 he made his La Scala debut, singing the role of Banquo in Verdi’s Macbeth under Claudio Abbado.

In 1980 he debuted at Glyndebourne as Melibeo in Haydn’s La fedeltа premiata, and at the Met in New York as the Grand Inquisitor in Verdi’s Don Carlo. His Vienna State Opera debut came in 1985 with the title role in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

Mr. Furlanetto has has performed at the major opera houses in cities all over the world including Vienna, London, Paris, New York, Rome, Milan, Turin, Palermo, St. Petersburg, Geneva, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and San Diego. In 2001 he was awarded the title Kammersaenger by the Vienna State Opera.

In 2006 Mr. Furlanetto appeared at the Bolshoi Theatre as Zaccaria (Nabucco). In 2012 he sang the role of Boris Godunov.

Mr. Furlanetto is an Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations and participates in humanitarian activities.