Italian soprano Giorgia Fumanti performs at her first concert in Shanghai.

Giorgia Fumanti may have had a late start to her music career, but she has made up for lost time.

Giorgia Fumanti's vocal training background is not typical of the rigorous exercises starting from a young age that most accomplished singers undergo. The 35-year-old Italian soprano, who sings the Italy Pavilion song, didn't begin singing until she auditioned for the church choir at 17 in her hometown of Aulla, Italy. Almost 20 years later, she performed her first concert in Shanghai.

"I'm extremely delighted that I have the honor to sing in Shanghai during the Expo," said the singer, her long dark hair highlighted with purple streaks, and with sparkling bright blue eyes, magnetic stage presence and an angelic voice.

"I never knew that I had a voice and I never thought of being a singer," she said. "I went to church purely for charity work and my voice, which is a gift, surprised everyone."