The lyric tenor of Peru.

• Author: Holston, Mark
• Position: MUSIC - Juan Diego Florez

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Although the first opera produced in South America appeared on a Lima, Peru stage in the late 1800s, the art form has fallen on hard times in recent decades in this capital city of eight million. The storied Teatro Municipal, a classic European-style opera house constructed in 1920, was badly damaged in a 1998 fire and is yet to be fully restored. Local opera aficionados lament that live performances are few and far between.

That doesn't mean, however, than when "Peru" and "opera" are mentioned in the same breath, the name of one of the world's most adored opera stars doesn't spring immediately to mind. Thanks to the international success of the dashingly handsome 37-year-old Juan Diego Flórez, widely regarded as the world's greatest living bel canto tenor, Peru remains in the global spotlight of the opera tradition.

Tellingly, it matters little to many Peruvians that when Flórez returns to the city of his birth, it's more often than not related to callings other than singing. He recently appeared on El Show de los Sueños , his country's version of the US hit television program Dancing with the Stars . On another visit, he donned a chefs garb to help cook up international interest in local cuisine by whipping up a dish he dubbed "Shrimp a la Pavarotti," a blending of Italian and Peruvian flavors he created in honor of the late opera legend to whom he is considered the most logical successor, Luciano Pavarotti. He also returned home in 2008 to wed his German fiancee Julia Trappe. As testimony to his stature as Peru's greatest international superstar, Lima's historic national cathedral permitted a wedding ceremony in its hallowed nave for the first time in six decades.

Flórez's ascent to the highest echelon of opera stardom has been as well earned as it has been spectacular. He rocketed into prominence in 1996 when, as an understudy at the prestigious Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Italy, he was tapped to step in for the ailing lead tenor in a particularly demanding role. That was followed in quick succession by his debut at Milan's fabled La Scala and high profile engagements at the world's most important opera venues, from London's Royal Opera House to the New York City's Met. An exclusive recording contract with the Decca, a major classical music label, produced a series of critically acclaimed releases that further solidified his fame.

From the world's leading opera critics, a non-stop chorus of praise for the Peruvian...