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| Manuel Mensà
Vocalist/Dancer/Actor 
PRESTIGE Classical Productions Foundation, Ltd.
is proud to offer MR. MANUEL MENSÀ in concert
More information available upon request. |
For his great qualities and unique artistic gifts, Manuel Mensà is more than a "simple" opera singer. He is a versatile artist that can express his own art in different contexts such as opera, operetta, musical comedy, drama and in classical ballet. He has performed in situation comedy, soap operas and is a frequent musical guest on Italian radio and television.
Manuel Mensà, born in Faenza, Italy in 1974, began his early dance career with a folk company in his hometown which featured him in many shows. At that time he began winning regional and national competitions which inspired him to continue serious studies at the London Royal Academy of Dance. In 1990, he received the Award of Honor for his accomplishments.
From 1990 -1993, Manuel continued his studies at the Academie de Danse Classique, "Princess Grace" in Montecarlo Upon his completion he was awarded a scholarship to study at La Scala in Milan where he specialized in classical ballet technique in both male and female, ballet on pointe, with international dancing instructors and Etoiles. While there, he added other styles of dance such as contemporary, modern, jazz and flamenco.
After completing Ballet studies in Milan, Manuel returned to Montecarlo to study music at the Academie Musique, " Prince Ranier". There he began to show interest in singing with Professors Lia Araujo and Fabrizio Facchini. It became apparent to his teachers that this young man had an unusual gift. They began developing his baritone voice and later progressed to contralto to soprano. This rare phenomenon is defined as "Stop-closure falsetto. Mr. Mensà presently coaches with internationally renowned Paolo Barbacini, former student of Ferruciio Tagliavini, one of the great Italian tenors of the 20th century.
After completing all of his studies in music, ballet and vocal training, Manuel began his professional career as a solo dancer and primo ballerina in many Italian and European productions. In 1997, he was invited to be the "guest artist" for the State Corps de Ballet of St Petersburg in Russia. In the year 2000, Manuel made his singing debut at the Teatro delle Celebrazioni in Bologna, Italy where he performed in the role of Silva Varescu in Emmerich Kalman’s "The Gypsy Princess.
Mr Mensà is well known internationally for his interpretive roles of the great heroines in Romantic and Verist operas. For his particular gift, with a vocal extension of three and a half octaves up to natural G above C, his great ability to dominate the stage and his total living roles, international critics have written: "...the angelic voice of Manuel Mensà, is a cameo of European Opera..."
Mensà takes part in numerous opera concerts and operettas in Italy and abroad. He is artistic director of the music club, Melting Point Association and tours in his own productions in Lirica Nuova Spettacoli.
 Ballet Dancer
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 Operatic Male Soprano
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Actor
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Manuel Mensà takes part in numerous opera concerts, recitals and operettas in Italy and abroad with his pianist/conductor, Ms Monica Ferrini, a graduate of the Conservatory F. Venezze in Rovigo and the Conservatory of G.B. Martini, in Bologna Italy.
Monica Farrini, pianist, has devoted herself to the repertoire of piano duets and chamber music. Since 1995, she has worked with opera singers, producing recitals, concerts, staging of chamber theatre and operettas in many principal theatres in Italy and abroad.
She is regularly on tour with the soprano Manuel Mensà, as pianist, and scores all the concert repertoire. She is often a guest with Mensà in television programs on national channels; she is his principal conductor and arranger. Her publication on "Origin and Development of Music Taste in Children," was published in 1996 by Ricordi Pulishers.
MANUEL MENSÀ PERFORMANCES
BALLET
Italian ballet company with Carla Fracci "Medea"Theatre de l’opera de Paris "Giselle", at Teatro Regio, Torino, Italy, and on tour)
Ballet de l’Academie "Princess Grace in Montecarlo
Ballet Cittàdi Cagliari "La notte di Valpurga" (Gounod’s Opera Faust "Walpurgis night")
Ballet Cittàdi como " Un ballo in maschera" (Verdi’s Opera).
Teatro Spontini "Li puntigli delle donne"
June 1997, principal guest artist at the State Corps de Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia, in "Mikhailovsky Male Ballet"
Teatro Communale di Bologna as guest artist in "La Dame di Picche" (Tchaikowsky’s Opera)
Teatro Dei Differenti di Barga as guest artist in "La Traviata" (Verdi’s Opera)
OTHER IMPORTANT WORKS
Teatro Stabile d’operetta,Torino in "Alpha", as principal ballet dancer, singer, actor."Italian revue".
"The White Horse Inn-operatta- for three season from 1993-1995
Compagnia d’operetta "Edipo" principal ballet dancer, singer and actor, from 1993-1998
"The Merry Widow", - Franz Lehar
"No, no Nanette", American musical
"The Town Bells", Italian operetta
"Variete` d’operettas", (gala event with major guest artists)
Teatro della Piccola lirica, "Gran varietà d’operetta" (operetta gala, a show designed and exclusively written for Mr. Mensà theatrical season 1997; on tour,1998
Teatro/Cabaret "Zelig" (Milano) "Special Guest" 1998/1999 season.
Ladyman Revue (Palma de Mallorca) international guest artist - summer season 2001)
Teatro de Celebrazoni (Bologna) "The Gypsy Princess" operetta role of Silva Varescu by Emmerich Kalman
CINEMA
"My Dear Friends," in the role of Cleopatra, by and with Alessandro Benvenuti.TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS
RAI 1,2 & 3 - The Estate Festival, The Indirect Life (two episodes), The Family, In the Beginning, Blob-comedic satire.Rete 4 - Sunday in the Park, The Good Life (two episodes)
Chanel 5 - Good Sunday
Italia 1 & 7 Modern Times, My Dear Friends, and Copertina, just to mention a few.
Mensà’s appearance on all the above television productions were in collaboration with well known Italian actors. Manuel Mensà takes part in numerous opera concerts, recitals and operettas in Italy and abroad. His critically acclaimed role as Mary Sunshine in "Chicago" at the National Theatre in Milan, Italy, brought raving reviews of his vocal and theatrical talents. He is the only male Soprano in Europe.
Promo videos, CD, audio cassettes of the touring productions of "Lirica Nuova Spectacolli" featuring Manuel Mensà, are available in the United States, Canada and Mexico through the Prestige Agency Artist Management.
Movies
The links below lead to QuickTime movies. They require the free QuickTime plugin, which can be downloaded here.