Peruvian opera star weds in Lima cathederal

Famed Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez married this weekend in a lavish wedding in Lima’s cathedral – the first marriage to be performed there since 1949.

The 35-year-old tenor exchanged vows with Julia Trappe a German-born former model who was raised in Australia. The pair were legally married in a civil ceremony in Vienna last year but Flórez was insistent on a Roman Catholic ceremony in his native Peru.

Archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani, performed the ceremony with about 800 guests looking on including Peruvian President Alan Garcia, first lady Pilar Nores and writer Mario Vargas Llosa.

Hundreds of fans and curious onlookers packed the central plaza during the ceremony and the news of the event was covered heavily in the Peruvian media. (A gallery of photographs can be found here)

Over the past decade, Florez’s fame has spread widely in opera circles and his performances are considered the acme of the bel canto style, with its emphasis on agility, clarity. As a result, he is often referred to as the successor of Luciano Pavarotti.

While his performances are in high demand across the world Flórez has also enjoyed considerable success as a recording artist. Since 2001 he has released five solo recital recordings on the Decca label most recently Arias for Rubini in June of last year.

Diego made waves last year when he broke a 74-year-old ban on encores at La Scala opera house in Milan. During the first act of Gaetano Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment in February the famously exacting audience began chanting "again, again, again" after Flórez performed the first act solo aria "Pour mon âme" (also known as "Ah mes amis").

He complied by repeating the solo which is infamous for its exacting run of high Cs although the theatre recommended that he not do so. The prohibition was put in place by Arturo Toscanini in 1921 in order to preserve the continuity and integrity of the famed Milaniese opera house’s productions.