Agim Hushi


Agim Hushi is an Albanian-born, Australian-naturalized spinto tenor currently living and working in Vienna, Austria.

Life

After his university studies for literature and psychology in Tirana, Hushi was noted for his tenor voice. He studied at the Albanian Academy of Arts in Tirana from which he graduated in 1991.
From 1991-1992 he was principal tenor with the Albanian State Opera, where he performed in Tosca, Cavalleria Rusticana and Il Trovatore. From 1992-1995 he 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 major roles ranging in operas including Manon Lescout, Turandot, Il Tabarro, Il Lombardi and Purgacov.
In 1997, he moved to Australia after having been invited to perform 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 was noted as saying: "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".
He then sang in the same opera for Opera Australia. Some 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 of him: "Agim Hushi's voice is strong and beautiful and he deserve an International career".
Hushi has performed in Australia, New Zealand, China, The United States, 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 primary roles are those of Cavaradosi, Calaf, Des Grieux, Radames, Manrico, Luigi, Canio and Turiddu.
In 2010 Hushi recorded with Albanian soprano Inva Mula for EMI her new CD, Il Bel Sogno with operatic arias supported by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.
In October 2012 Hushi recorded his first solo album, Amore Grande, with the most famous tenor songs under the baton of A. Pavlic and the New Europe Symphonic Orchestra.
This CD was regarded from Deutsche Grammophon and critics as one of the best CD since Di Stefanos best days in all tenors recordings.
Hushi is currently the Head of the Opera Department at the Vienna Conservatorium. He was a founder of Belcanto School of Singing in Adelaide, Australia.

Career highlights

  1. September 1999 - winner of the "Jane Potter Foundation" in Australia for his achievement in opera and for his high class performances on world opera stages.
  2. April 2000 - awarded the "Emerging Artist of the Year 2000" from the Premier of Australia.
  3. June 2005 - awarded the Golden Medal of UN by Waheed Waheedullah, the Ambassador of the United Nations in Albania
  4. March 29, 2012 - awarded the Golden Medal, Great Master of Arts, by the Albanian president.
  5. May 26, 2012 - received the title of "Professor" from Qingdao Technological University, P.R.C.
  6. June 20, 2012 - awarded the title of Honorary Citizen at his native city of Kavajë.