After training at the opera school of the Paris Opéra, the tenor Jean-Luc Viala further developed his abilities in Italy with Arrigo Polla. In France he was taught by Michel Sénéchal. In 1985 he joined the Basle Opera, where he spent a year. In 1986 he sang the role of the narrator in L'Enfance du Christ with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Yehudi Menuhin and in 1988 made his début at Glyndeboume in Richard Strauss's Capriccio, appearing as Bénédict at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in the same year. Engagements followed at the Opéra of Lyon, the Festival of Aix-en-Provence, La Fenice in Venice, the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet, Rome Opera and elsewhere in major opera-houses throughout Europe. He made his New York Metropolitan Opera debut as Tonio in La Fille du régiment and continues a flourishing career, undertaking major roles with leading companies in collaboration with conductors of the greatest distinction.