F.Tenelli made his debut in Georgia in 1989 in the role of the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. He was principal tenor with Tbilisi National Opera, one of the oldest Opera Houses in former USSR (Founded in 1851).

In 1993 Mr.Tenelli made his North American debut in Quebec Grand Opera In the role of Nadir in Bizet's 'Pearl Fishers' with critical acclaim from Opera Canada (see reviews) and he debuted the same season with Societe Philharmonique in Beethoven's Mass in C (available on CD). He later appeared with the S.Philharmonique in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Kodaly's Psalmus Hungaricus and Te Deum, Liszt's Missa Coronationalis, Berlioz's La Damnation di Faust, Verdi's and Mozart's Requems.

The 1994 season was marked by appearances on Italian TV (TeleItalia), solo and gala concerts in Montreal(Place des Arts) and Toronto(Ford's Art Center) and the Duke of Mantua at Opera Lira in National Arts Center(Ottawa) with Great Canadian baritone Louis Quilico as Rigoletto.

Mr.Tenelli again performed in 1996 with Louis Quilico in Dubois' les sept paroles du Christ and in many following Gala performances in Montreal.
In 1995 he sang Canio in I Pagliacci to critical acclaim in London (Ont).

In 1996, he presented an opera gala in Toronto's Ford Art Center along with other prominent young Canadian singers, again receiving great critical acclaim. He continued his recital tour with Rakhmaninov songs and Kodaly's challenging Psalmus Hungaricus (later he will coach Ben Happner preparing him to Carnegie Hall Rachmaninov Recital). He also appeared in the heroic role of Bacchus in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos at McGill Opera.

Mr.Tenelli performed the role of Cavaradossi at the International Summer Festival in Theater of (Munich) in June and July of 1998. Mr.Tenelli is regularly invited to sing in Tbilisi(Georgia). His next appearance in Georgia will be in the role of Otello and Canio(I Pagliacci) next season.

"...dazzling technical and dramatic assurance... remarkable French diction..."
Charles Pope "Opera Canada"

"The most polished singer... a beautifully fluid, gorgeous phrasing, lovely artistry of style..."
Paula Citron,CBC

"... a voice of steely brilliance."
Frieder Mossler, Suddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)

"A powerful voice..."
Gazzette Montreal

"Dominant in voice and presence... The shining tenor of this opera season"
Christa Scheafer, Munchener Merkur (Germany)

"Franco Tenelli sang...with confidence and resolve, with great projection and a majestic high register."
David Abrams,Syracuse Herald-Journal(USA)

"Tenor Franco Tenelli... performed magnificently...he shone... he sang with clear tone, focus and intensity. Everyone else paled in comparison to him..."
Pauline Oo, Western Gerald Kalamazoo.(USA)

"...Powerful and bright-voiced tenor Franco Tenelli sang an ardent Don Jose..."
Ilse Zadrozny, The Gazette, Montreal, March 29, 2003.