Tenor Gioacchino Lauro Li Vigni once again performs with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, having spent the past three years rising to international acclaim in the world of opera.  He was the first place winner of the prestigious Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Opera Competition in 2002.  He went on to place third in the 2003 Francisco Vinas International Voice Competition in Barcelona, Spain and the public acclaimed him winner of The People�s Choice Award at the same competition.  The Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Finals in April 2003 were also a critical and popular success for Mr. Li Vigni; �Tenor Gioacchino Lauro Li Vigni got big applause...Mr. Lauro Li Vigni manfully wrings every possible virtue from the voice given him, and his career will continue,� wrote Bernard Holland of the New York Times. 

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Palermo Italy, Mr. Li Vigni returned to the United States in 1996.  He settled first in Brooklyn, NY before moving to Philadelphia to study at The Academy of Vocal Arts, where he was graduated in 2003.  His late father Salvatore Lauro Li Vigni was himself a celebrated tenor and Gioacchino�s first teacher and mentor.

Mr. Li Vigni made his Metropolitan Opera debut January 23, 2004 as Krushschev in Boris Godunov.  He will return to The Met during the 2004-2005 season to sing in Nabucco, Der Rosenkavalier and Samson et Dalila.  He returns to Philadelphia from a dynamic performance as Edgardo in Donizetti�s Lucia di Lammermoor for the Thessaloniki Opera (Greece) in October 2004, under the stage direction of legendary soprano Renata Scotto. 

Mr. Li Vigni resides in Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.