italy's top opera house, la scala, in milan, and vowed he would return as a soloist. i was still a student in philadelphia and i visited la scala as a tourist and i was there enjoying the view of this magnificent theatre and i said to the guards, "i will sing here in ten years." and i was singing there in less than ten months. so success was rapid forjuan diego and he went on to perform many times at la scala, including as count almaviva in rossini's barber of seville. he is born to be on the stage. he has that amazing stage magic so when he walks on stage you just are gripped by him. in 1997, juan diego began a long and successful relationship with the royal opera house in london. where i too have a connection,