Michael Maniaci

Michael Maniaci (born in 1976) is an American opera singer. Possessing a male soprano voice, Maniaci is noted for his claim to be able to sing into the upper soprano register without using falsetto, an otherwise common phonation for men who sing in high registers, such as countertenors. Although this was possible for castrati, because of the hormonal imbalance following castration, Maniaci claims that, for some unknown reason, his larynx did not develop and lengthen completely, causing his voice not to "break" in the usual manner. This physical particularity has given Maniaci the ability to sing in the soprano register without sounding like a typical countertenor or a female singer. For this reason, professional vocal pedagogists consider Maniaci's voice to be unique among countertenors, and compare his vocal quality to the castrato voice of the past.

Maniaci is becoming an important presence on the international classical music scene, having already appeared in lead roles at companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, La Fenice, and Opera North. He is known mostly for singing the works of Handel, Mozart, and Monteverdi.

Maniaci spent his early childhood in the American Midwest. During his early teens, his family relocated to Western Pennsylvania and resided in Peters Township, a small community located approximately twenty miles south of Pittsburgh. During his middle school years, Maniaci began to develop his musical skills within numerous school musicals, as well as a variety of community musical groups. While a student at Peters Township High School, Maniaci participated in several junior musical organizations, winning many awards and honors, for his work as both a singer and an instrumentalist. He graduated from high school in 1994.

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