Giorgio Zancanaro has had a solid European career despite a complete lack of formal training. He was a policeman when he began singing. His major roles are Rigoletto, Escamillo (Carmen), Germont Pére (Traviata), Enrico Ashton (Lucia di Lammermoor), the High Priest (Samson et Dalila) and Renato in Un ballo in Maschera. He was particularly known for his Verdi roles, and for EMI recorded Rigoletto, Attila, La Forze del Destino, and Les Vepres Siciliennes.