Agim Hushi

BIOGRAPHY

Agim Hushi (born 1 May 1967, in Kavajë) is a world-renowned Albanian spinto tenor of Australian citizenship. After his University studies for literature and psychology in Tirana, he was discovered as a musical talent with an extraordinary tenor voice. He pursued his studies at the Albanian Academy of Arts in Tirana from which he graduated with excellent results in 1991.

From 1991-1992 he was principal tenor with the Albanian State Opera, where he performed the main tenor roles in Tosca, Cavalleria Rusticana and Il Trovatore. From 1992-1995 Agim Hushi continued his postgraduate studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest where, in parallel with vocal studies, he specialized in pedagogy of singing.

In 1995 he was appointed principal tenor at the Hungarian State Opera where he performed many major roles ranging in operas including Manon Lescout, Turandot, Il Tabarro, Il Lombardi and Purgacov.

From 1997 Agim Hushi pursued his career in Australia where he was invited to sing first, the role of Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon Lescaut, for the South Australian State Opera in Adelaide under the baton of maestro Richard Bonynge who said: "In my entire experience working with Agim Hushi has been a wonderful discovery. Agim Hushi and Laura Niculescu are the best cast in the world today".

Based on such great success he was invited and contracted for the same opera, to sing for Opera Australia. His Sydney Opera House debut was highly acclaimed and critics compared him to the legendary tenor Beniamino Gigli. Hushi continued to sing around Asia, New Zealand and USA. In 1999 with an Australian government grant he went for a belcanto experience in Milan with Franco Corelli, who wrote for him: "Agim Hushi's voice is strong and beautiful and he deserve an International career". Hushi has sung in Australia, New Zealand, Kina, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Dubai, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Spain, UK, Switzerland, Albania and Austria.

His best roles are Cavaradosi, Calaf, Des Grieux, Radames, Manrico, Luigi, Canio and Turiddu.

In 2010 Agim Hushi recorded with Albanian soprano Inva Mula for EMI her new CD, Il Bel Sogno with operatic arias supported by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.

Hushi is currently the Head of the Opera Department at the Vienna Conservatorium and regarded as one of the foremost singing teachers in Europe. He was the founder of Belcanto School of Singing in Adelaide, Australia. Also he was teaching while continuing his singing at Singapore's National University. Agim Hushi has given master classes around the world in countries like China, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Denmark and in many notable vocal institutions in European countries such as Santa Cecilia in Rome and the Ecole Normal in Paris.